Greetings of peace, love, joy and hope- to each one of you, as you prepare to celebrate my birth once again!

I have just come across an invitation, that some of you are planning to celebrate my birthday on 23 December 2024, in Delhi.A great idea indeed – congrats!! My birth as the Saviour of the world must be celebrated! Do go ahead and enjoy yourselves. However, I must confess that your choice of Chief Guest at my birthday party, confuses me tremendously; in fact, I am aghast! Obviously, you will point fingers to me and say to me that during my life on this earth, I was wining and dining with tax- collectors and prostitutes and damned sinners of every hue on the horizon. I have absolutely no doubt that you would conveniently say this to me. Besides, you would also take me on my own words, unhesitatingly quoting me, “I have come for the sinner…!”

Having said this, I would like to state clearly, strongly and unambiguously:

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest…the small farmer/s. You are aware of the suffering that they have been subject to. Their lands have been snatched away from them; they are given a raw deal for the crops they produce; they are being denied a just Minimum Support Price(MSP). Remember the four anti- small farmer laws which are currently in cold storage, designed to help the big corporates who have already built huge granaries? Even today several small farmers are fasting, they want their voice to be heard. I would have been delighted if you had invited one of them for my birthday and given them a voice to express woes, just listened to them. You seem to forget that the first to be invited to celebrate my birthday were the Shepherds. they were the Chief Guests- poor and simple, excluded and exploited, living on the peripheries.They came in haste to worship me! Mummy Mary and Papa Joseph had time for them and received them with the warmth, love and joy which so profoundly defined that first Christmas night.

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest…the Human Rights Defender/ s. Umar Khalid, Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira and others. My Father had a clear plan, he chose the Magi, the ones who were relentlessly pursuing the truth; the ones who had the courage to follow the Star, despite all odds. The Magi took a stand against the wiles of Herod and refused to toe his line and fall into the trap of his machinations. They took a visible and vocal stand for truth and justice, as they took a calculated decision to go home by another route. There are so many Human Rights defenders who are silenced, hounded and harassed, incarcerated and even killed. Remember our beloved late Fr Stan Swamy? How nice if one of these, who so meaningfully epitomise the spirit of the Gospel, wasaccorded the pride of place at my birthday party!

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest …a peacemaker; someone who has the courage to internalise and actualise peace, justice, harmony, joy and fraternity. There are millions of them in India today – simple, ordinary, voiceless, sensitive people who have a genuine concern for others. who reach out to others. That first Christmas night, the angels sang in one voice, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests” On his first Christmas as the Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis referred to thesong of the angels as “a song that unites heaven and earth.”. He invited everyone to join in this little song. He called it “a song for every man or woman who keeps watch through the night, who hopes for a better world, who cares for others while humbly seeking to do his or her duty.” Pope Francis said, “the song of the angels gives praise and glory to heaven, while at the same time promising peace to earth and all its people.” It is indeed, a song of peace.

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest, …the ‘other’! Remember the people of Egypt? Theyprovided me, my Mum and my Dad with shelter, safety and security. They accorded us a warm welcome. They treated us as one like them, integrated us in their society, gave us all that we needed. It was not easy being refugees, strangers/ foreigners from a distant land. Today we tend to discard these very people so easily. They are discriminated against, their houses are bull-dozed and the most derogatory language is being used against them. My mother always wore a hijab – it was an integral part of her culture and tradition. Today we have reached the lowest rung of pettiness as we determine what one should wear and eat, see and read. It would be an excellent choice to have one of them as the Chief Guest at my birthday party!

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest …a tribal/ an Adivasi. The indigenous peoples are the soul of a nation. The natives – the original inhabitants of the land. Their jal, jungle, jameen – all their natural resources are being snatched away from them. Their identity is being destroyed. Actually, having a Kuki-zo tribal from Manipur, would be ideal. Since early May 2023, they have been bruised brutalised and battered; most of them have lost everything. Many are dead, others just surviving in make-shift refugee camps. Their plight is terrible, unbelievable – a classic case of man’s inhumanity to man. Imagine how wonderful it would be if one of them was invited to be the Chief Guest!

For my birthday, you are organising in my name, INVITE as Chief Guest …the poor and the vulnerable: there are so many of them in the country today: the casual labourers, the migrant workers, the fisher folk and other indigenous coastal people, the vegetable vendors and slum- dwellers, the ones who are trafficked,the unemployed, the Dalits, the OBCs, the women and those from the LGBTQIA+ community, the bonded persons and abused children. the list is endless indeed. Besides you forget that I am born a Palestinian – wow it would have been terrific to have a Palestinian as the Chief Guest and take a stand against the ruthlessness of the Israeli fascists

Sadly, you seem to miss the spirit and message of Christmas – as you concentrate on power, privilege, position, possessions and pride. One can never invite someone as Chief guest, who has tried to destroy the sanctity of the Constitution, prevented people from freely practising and propagation one’s religion and even suffocated freedom of speech and expression. Lies, corruption, hate and violence are mainstreamed in the country today.Minorities and other vulnerable sections of society are at the receiving end of a brutal regime. Don’t fool yourselves; this is neither dialogue nor meaningful interactions.

I took a stand against the Caesars, Pilates and Herods of my time. Can you learn from me? You forget that my birth took place in a stable. I am aware that you will do absolutely nothing to change things. That is the tragedy! Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in  ‘God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas’ reminds us, “Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honour, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.”

Finally, enjoy yourself! Sorry, in conscience, I will NOT be in your midst! But of course, you will NOT even invite me for the birthday bash you are organising in my name! No problem! I prefer to be with those, I have truly come for- the least, the lost and the last! Happy Christmas!

Your brother, friend and Saviour,

Jesus Christ

December 21, 2024

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

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia.

Note: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the Christmas celebrations hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) at its headquarters in the national capital on Monday, according to a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Sunday.

This event marks the first time a prime minister will participate in a programme at the headquarters of the Catholic Church in India, the release noted.

The post For my birthday, ‘you are organising in my name,’ a point of order: Christmas invite to PM Modi appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a fitting tribute to Mother Teresa. the United Nations in 2013, declared every September 5 (that is today -her death anniversary) as the ‘International Day of Charity’ inviting “all Member States and all international and regional organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and individuals, to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner, by encouraging charity, including through education and public awareness-raising activities.”

Mother Teresa was truly the epitome of compassion. If ever one would dare to give a core competency to her, it is this single characteristic of being a compassionate person. She radiated this quality, when on earth, in a way, few humans could ever do; her love for the marginalized and the vulnerable and particularly for the poorest of the poor and the dying destitute, for the last, the least and the lost- was boundless. She was able to give and not to count the cost. Her ability to be compassionate towards others motivated her to found the Missionaries of Charity. She was effusive in her compassion for the “least of our sisters and brothers” and did not try to hide this fact. 

We witness today hate and violence, wars and conflicts, the consistent denigration, demonization and discrimination of minorities and other vulnerable groups.  Lynchings, rapes and murders seem to have become an accepted thing! The world desperately stands in need of compassion today! A compassion, which reaches out to the unloved, the ostracized, the marginalized and the vulnerable. A compassion, that takes a stand for the poor, the victims of injustice, the refugees and the displaced. A compassion, that is able to negate and overcome the hate and divisiveness; the racism and communalism; the xenophobia and the exclusiveness that has gripped our world as never before.  In India, we need the compassion that Mother Teresa taught us, as never before.

In 1979, awarding Mother Teresa the Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wrote in their citation, “In making the award the Norwegian Nobel Committee has expressed its recognition of Mother Teresa’s work in bringing help to suffering humanity. This year the world has turned its attention to the plight of children and refugees, and these are precisely the categories for whom Mother Teresa has for many years worked so selflessly. “Even after almost fifty years, that painful reality of ‘suffering humanity’ still exists. Mother Teresa reminds us, “at the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.’”; and on another occasion, “we think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty

On September 4^, 2016, in a very special ceremony at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa as a Saint of the Catholic Church. In his homily he reminded the world of the need and importance to live the values, like compassion, which St Teresa of Kolkata embodied, “May this tireless worker of mercy help us to increasingly understand that our only criterion for action is gratuitous love, free from every ideology and all obligations, offered freely to everyone without distinction of language, culture, race or religion.  Mother Teresa loved to say, “Perhaps I don’t speak their language, but I can smile”.  Let us carry her smile in our hearts and give it to those whom we meet along our journey, especially those who suffer.  In this way, we will open up opportunities of joy and hope for our many brothers and sisters who are discouraged and who stand in need of understanding and tenderness”.

Mother Teresa was also a teacher, having taught in a Bengali Medium Girls School for several years before she founded the Missionaries of Charity. During her lifetime, she taught the world several important and valuable lessons. Compassion however, was her hallmark, her ‘forte’! We need to do our best to imbibe these values in whatever way we can. She would say, “In this life we cannot do great things; we can only do small things with great love!”

As we celebrate today, God’s great gift to humankind in the person of Mother Teresa, let us also pray to her, this great ‘Saint of the gutters’ to give us a compassionate heart, the courage to reach out in love unconditionally and the commitment to give and not to count the cost!

Let us remember the words of Mother Teresa, “Spread love everywhere you go: first of all, in your own home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbour . . . Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

Mother Teresa is the Saint who taught us compassion! She walked the talk on this! Do we have the courage and humility to do likewise?

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

The post Mother Teresa: Saint who taught us Compassion appeared first on SabrangIndia.

India cries for Freedom from the destruction of the country’s democratic ethos and framework! The V-Dem Institute at Sweden’s University of Gothenburg in its ‘Democracy Report 2024’ says that India is “among the ‘worst autocratisers’ in recent years. Adding that, “autocratisation process has been well documented, including gradual but substantial deterioration of freedom of expression, compromising independence of the media, crackdowns on social media, harassments of journalists critical of the government, as well as attacks on civil society; the “anti-pluralist” BJP government has used laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism to silence critics. The Modi-led government also continues to suppress the freedom of religion rights. Intimidation of political opponents and people protesting government policies, as well as silencing of dissent in academia are now prevalent” India has also been named in the top 10 autocratising countries in the last 10 years; it is placed 104 in the Liberal Democracy Index (LDI).

India cries for Freedom from want, poverty, hunger and deprivation: millions in our country, still live below the poverty line. The country still does not have any official relevant, reliable updated data with regard to poverty. There are at least five different estimates of the number of poor people in India, which put the number of poor in India between 35 million and 375 million; between 2.5% of the population to 29.5%, based on different estimates between 2014 and 2022. In the 2023.The Global Hunger Index, ranked India 111 out of 125 countries with a level of hunger that is serious.

India cries for Freedom from the throttling of the right of free speech and expression. Most print and electronic media are ‘godified’ (lapdog). India’s position in the World Press Freedom Index 2024, was 159 out of the 180 countries ranked. The ‘Reporters without Borders’ (RSF), ranks countries according to the level of freedom available to journalists. The report declares India as one of the world’s most dangerous countries for the media. The right to dissent is fundamental to a vibrant democracy. Media personnel who take a visible and vocal stand for truth and justice are harassed, incarcerated and even killed! What is happening in Parliament (both in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha) is there for all to see. The Speakers of these Houses, make every effort to curb, to mute, and to stop members of the Opposition from voicing the legitimate cries of the people.

India cries for Freedom for Human rights defenders (HRDs), right to information seekers and others who take a stand for truth, justice and human rights. They are at the receiving end of a vicious and vindictive system. They are intimidated, incarcerated and even killed!  These include those in the Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case; Jesuit Father Stan Swamy is a case in point. He worked and lived for the legitimate rights of the tribal people. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on 8 October 2020 and died on 5 July 2021 at the age of 84, whilst still incarcerated. His death is regarded as ‘institutional murder’. Highly committed activists like Teesta Setalvad, Arundhati Roy, Prof. G. N. Saibaba, Umar Khalid, Medha Patkar and others, have false cases foisted on them and are victims of vendetta. NGOs who work with the poor and powerless, are denied their FCRA licence.

India cries for Freedom from the demonization, discrimination and denigration of minorities. This is happening today with frightening regularity. Minorities (particularly Muslims Christians and Sikhs) continue to be attacked and are at the receiving end of a communally polarised society. On  26 June, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken  whilst releasing the Annual Report on international religious freedom  of the US Government, noted that a wide array of violence against religious minorities were taking place in India saying, “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities” The USCIRF’s 2024 Annual Report recommended that  India be designated as a  Country of Particular Concern (CPC), for “engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief”. 

India cries for Freedom from the pillaging of the environment. Fragile ecosystems are being destroyed. The landslides in Wayanad, the terrible flooding in Delhi and several other so-called ‘natural’ calamities all over the country, show how precious little has been done to address serious environmental concerns. Government projects favour their crony capitalist friends, providing them with a license to loot, plunder and rape the environment; the continued use of fossil fuels is a case in point. The Environment is in a shambles! In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, India was ranked 176 out of 180 countries! The destruction of precious forest lands and bio-diversity, to cater to so-called ‘development’ projects, contribute immensely to the climatic changes one experiences today. The 2023 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, provides that the de-reservation of reserved forests, use of forest land for non-forest purpose, assigning forest land by way of lease or otherwise to private entity, precious water bodies in the urban areas are land-filled, causing floods. Most major rivers in the country are polluted; there is over-dependence on fossil fuel. Even today, coal blocks are auctioned to crony capitalist friends of the Government. Sections of the corporate sector and particularly the mining mafia–have no qualms of conscience, in depleting precious natural resources, with the sole desire of profiteering.

India cries for Freedom from draconian laws and other anti-people legislation which have been promulgated without due deliberations and debate, with scant respect to the legitimate rights of the citizens. These include the Citizenship Amendment Act, the Abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A regarding Jammu and Kashmir, , the anti-farmer laws ( currently on hold), the four (anti-worker) labour codes, the anti- conversion laws, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023 , the Uniform Civil Code passed by the State of Uttarakhand, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ report; the three new criminal laws, the ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’ the ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita,’ and the ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’  which have been made  effective from 1 July 2024.

India cries for Freedom for quality and relevant education. Many (particularly those from the poor and deprived sections of society) still do not have the possibilities to study and the opportunities for a meaningful career and a bright future. They are straddled with a National Education Policy that does not prepare them for life; they are subject to leakages in the NEET; hundreds of students and other youth, commit suicide because of the frustrations they are subject to.  The many millions of those who want to go to study abroad, is a case in point. Education in India, it is evident, does not sufficiently prepare ‘men and women for others.

India cries for Freedom from unemployment. The youth of the country continue to grapple with  unemployment , with nearly 83 percent of the jobless population belonging to this demographic, as per the India Employment Report 2024 jointly published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Institute of Human Development (IHD) The report (released on 27 March 2024)underscores a concerning trend where the proportion of educated young people, possessing at least secondary education, among the total unemployed youth has nearly doubled from 35.2 percent in 2000 to 65.7 percent in 2022.

India cries for Freedom from corruption. Corruption is today the new normal in India and is mainstreamed; practically nothing can be done, without greasing the palms of those at the control wheels. Politicians from the opposition parties are easily bought up. The ruling regime has made mindboggling amounts of money through demonetisation and the sale of electoral bonds (EB). The last General Elections were also about the manipulation of the EVMs and the fact that in about 70 Constituencies, the ruling regime won only because of their corrupt practices. The most recent Hindenburg Research revelations show that investments by the SEBI Chairperson have been used to amass large stakes in Adani Group companies in violation of SEBI regulations. Transparency International ranked India, 93 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2024. The BJP regime under Modi must easily be the most corrupt, amongst the world democracies today.

India cries for Freedom for all Constitutional and independent authorities/bodies. These are patently meant to be non-partisan, objective, impartial, transparent and just! These include   the Election Commission (ECI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Income Tax Department, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the police and even sections of the judiciary. Most of those who belong to these bodies, today seem to have lost all qualms of conscience and are blatantly one-sided, corrupt, compromised, corrupted, spinelessly toeing the diktats of their political masters.

India cries for Freedom for Vinesh Phogat. This woman today epitomises the resilience, the courage and the strength of all women of India. Together with some of her co-wrestlers, she took on the all-powerful don of India’s wrestling federation for his alleged misdeeds. The BJP did absolutely nothing to take a stand on behalf of the victims; they clearly sided with the perpetrator. Vinesh was singled out; despite her prowess she was almost denied a chance to compete in the Olympics. She showed her mettle there – beating the world’s best. She was disqualified before the final round: many questions asked are still being asked. Today she is India’s national heroine; but she has had to pay a price!

India cries for Freedom for the tribals of Manipur! Since May 2023, the tribals there, particularly the Kuki-Zo people, are victims of an insensitive, divisive and ruthless regime – who have sided openly with the perpetrators of this current spate of violence. Hundreds of tribals have been killed, many more injured, and thousands have fled Manipur or live in refugee camps. Their homes and earthly possessions have been destroyed; their lands taken away from them; even their places of worship have been razed to the ground. There is no political will on the part of the State and Central Governments to ensure peace in Manipur.

India cries for Freedom for all to live in dignity and equity, in harmony and peace, in truth and in justice, in acceptance of the other and in the celebration of pluralism; the people yearn for freedom to enhance the democratic ethos, Constitutional values and the secular fabric of the nation. For Freedom from untruth, deceit, lies and ‘feku-isms’. For Freedom from manipulated, selective and biased history. For  Freedom from hate and violence, from rape and killing, from extortion and corruption, from uniformity and monoculturalism, from authoritarianism and subjugation  Freedom for all: the Adivasi’s , Dalits and OBCs, for the minorities and the marginalised, for women and the other Genders, for the small farmers and the indigenous coastal people , for the casual labourers and the migrant workers,  for the excluded and the exploited They all  demand the freedom to be fearless and transparent citizens of our beloved land! As India yearns for that total freedom, we pray in the words of Tagore, from his ‘Gitanjali’ “into that heaven of freedom my Father, let my country awake!”

India cries for Freedom from every from of fear and insecurity. Fear seems to have paralysed large sections of the country. It is certainly not easy to deal with a brutal, vicious and vengeful regime. Though written in the late 19^th century and in the context of British colonialism, Rabindranath Tagore’s hard-hitting poem on ‘Freedom’ is an uncomfortable commentary of the reality and fears which grips India today

“Freedom from fear is the freedom

I claim for you, my motherland!

Freedom from the burden of the ages,

bending your head, breaking your back, blinding your eyes

to the beckoning call of the future;

Freedom from the shackles of slumber

where with you fasten yourself in night’s stillness,

mistrusting the star that speaks of truth’s adventurous paths;

freedom from the anarchy of destiny

whole sails are weakly yielded to the blind uncertain winds,

and the helm to a hand ever rigid and cold as death.

Freedom from the insult of dwelling in a puppet’s world,

where movements are started through brainless wires,

repeated through mindless habits,

where figures wait with patience and obedience

for the master of show,

to be stirred into a mimicry of life.”

India cries for Freedom, TODAY!!!

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

The post India Cries for Freedom! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In his path-breaking book, ‘India’s Undeclared Emergency’, Bangalore- based legal luminaire, Arvind Narrain, presents an incisive and accurate analysis of how the Modi- regime has ushered in, through direct and subtle ways, an undeclared emergency! Narrain is clear, through measures which reek of populism, polarisation and post-truth, the Modi-regime is far more dangerous as constitutional propriety, the pro-people policies and the concern for the nation’s future – are blatantly disregarded. It is clearly an authoritarian rule, there are several indicators to evidence it. A short distance from India becoming a totalitarian state. The message is loud and clear: today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

On 4 February 1948, under the stewardship of Home Minister, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the Indian Government banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by one of them on 30 January. The unequivocal resolution of the Government stated among other things, “undesirable and even dangerous activities have been carried on by members of the Sangh. It has been found that in several parts of the country individual members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have indulged in acts of violence involving arson, robbery, dacoity, and murder and have collected illicit arms and ammunition. They have been found circulating leaflets exhorting people to resort to terrorist methods, to collect firearms, to create disaffection against the government and suborn the police and the military. These activities have been carried on under a cloak of secrecy…. In these circumstances, it is the bounden duty of the government to take effective measures to curb this reappearance of violence in a virulent form and as a first step to this end, they have decided to declare the Sangh as an unlawful association. Government has no doubt that in taking this measure they have the support of all law–abiding citizens, of all those who have the welfare of the country at heart”. So, when a few days ago, the Centre recently lifted a longstanding ban on government employees participating in activities associated with the RSS, they were clearly stating, without qualms of conscience that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

In a hard-hitting expose ‘Democracy can die in daylight too’ (The Hindu, 13 June 2019), Krishna Prasad a former Editor-in-Chief, Outlook, and former member of the Press Council of India writes, “When the media’s darkest days — the censorship under Indira Gandhi’s 21 months of Emergency — are invoked, L.K. When the media’s darkest days — the censorship under Indira Gandhi’s 21 months of Emergency — are invoked, L.K. Advani’s quote that ‘the press crawled when asked to bend’ is airily recalled. But at least the media of the time was adhering to a formal order which had a start date and an end date. In the 21st century, it didn’t take a presidential order for the ‘feral beasts’ to suspend their instincts, to look the other way, to stoke majoritarian fires, to fearlessly question not the ruling party but the Opposition, and usher in Modi 2.0”. That was said five years ago.  India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index 2024 is a pathetic 159 out of 180 countries.

On 18 July, ‘The Editors Guild of India’ (EGI)wrote a letter to Shri Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in Parliament. The meticulously written letter cites several “concerns about legislative measures taken to control media over the past years”. The EGI urged the opposition to raise questions in Parliament, highlighting the “increasing the increasing threat to fundamental freedom” and mentioned four legislations with their limitations: Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023; Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill 2023; Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023; and amended IT Rules 2021. Freedom of speech and expression is being throttled in India as never before Indeed, today is worse than the ‘emergency!’

In India during the Hindu month of ‘Shravan’, a large number of Hindu devotees travel from various places with ‘kanwars’ (two pitchers tied on either end of a bamboo pole), carrying holy water from the River Ganges to perform ‘jalabhishek’ of Shivlings. Recently, the Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand brought out an extremely pernicious order, demanding that all eateries where the pilgrims would journey to compulsorily display the names of their owners. Such orders are blatantly unconstitutional, reminding one of the discriminatory policies of Hitler’s Nazi regime and the apartheid of South Africa. Thanks to enlightened citizens like Aakar Patel, Apoorvanand Jha and others, these directives were challenged in the Supreme Court. On 22 July, in an interim order, the judges of the Supreme Court prohibited the enforcement of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand directives stating “until the returnable date, having regard to the above discussion, we deem it appropriate to pass an interim order, prohibiting the enforcement of the above directives.  In other words, the food sellers maybe required to display the kind of food, they are serving to the Kanwariyas, but must not be forced to disclose the names/identities of the owners or the employees. A powerful statement indicating that, today is worse than the ‘emergency!’

On 17 July, the National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) in a detailed statement (with irrefutable facts and figures) strongly condemned the spree of mob lynchings of minorities across the country, after the declaration of Lok Sabha election results on 4 June. The NAPM demanded a fair investigation, stringent and prompt action against the perpetrators in all these cases, as well as complete support, safety, and compensation to the aggrieved families. They also called for the withdrawal of the FIR filed against UP- based journalists for merely reporting cases of mob lynchings. They added that, while the BJP Government has received a weakened mandate in the elections, the social poison of communal hated continues to remain a major challenge, which the NAPM and many others, are convince needs to be unitedly resisted.  The mob lynchings of minorities only prove that, today is worse than the ‘emergency!’

Ever since the Modi-regime, assumed power in 2014, there has been incessant attacks on the minorities of India particularly on the Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Those belonging to minority communities are attacked and their institutions destroyed. Hate speeches denigrating and demonising minorities are the rule of the day even during the election campaign speeches of Modi! The anti-conversion laws in several BJP -ruled states are draconian and unconstitutional. Some governments have policies which are blatantly anti- minority. Minorities are also denied employment opportunities in the Government. According to a recent report released by an Advocacy group, there are at least two attacks per day on Christians and their institutions. On 26 June, releasing its annual ‘International Freedom of Religion Report 2023’, in Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Blinken stated, “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship of members of minority faith communities”. All this demonstrates that, today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

For more than a year now, since 3 May 2023, tribals (who are mainly Christian) in the State of Manipur have been at the receiving end of a vicious Government! Even today, more than thirteen months later the violence continues unabated: many are killed and many more are injured; thousands (particularly the Kuki-Zo people) are living as refugees elsewhere. Their houses and places of worship are destroyed. Their land has been taken away from them! That the State and Central Governments are responsible for the ongoing violence in Manipur, leaves no one in doubt. That they have shown not an iota of political will to quell the violence and restore law and order in Manipur is a clear proof that, today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

Whilst India boasts of producing some of the richest persons in the world, the fact is that vast sections of the society still do not have access to roti- kapda- makaan(food-clothing-shelter) and the other basic amenities of life; many still below the poverty line. The gap between the rich and the poor grows wider every day! It is not surprising that in the Global Hunger Index 2023, India was placed at an abysmal 111 out of 125 countries surveyed! The Adivasis/Tribals (indigenous people), who constitute a sizable section of India’s population are denied their jal- jungle- jameen (water-forests-land) and other legitimate rights. Thousands of them are displaced because of mega- projects. Primary education in the remote tribal villages is non – existent and so is medicare for them; a large percentage of tribals have to migrate to urban areas / other States in search of employment. Besides them, most migrant workers, continue to be excluded and exploited! The plight of the Dalits, the OBCs leave much to be desired; untouchability is practiced everywhere; manual scavenging still exists; the reality of the safai kamdars (those who clean the sewage tanks) is pathetic. These and other vulnerable sections of society are testimony to the fact that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’ 

Just before his arrest on 8 October 2020, in a video-message that went viral, Jesuit Fr. Stan Swamy 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.”  Fr Stan was incarcerated in the Taloja jail. He was accused as being a part of the Bhima- Koregaon conspiracy case with about fifteen others. A charge he vehemently denied and there is enough of evidence today to prove that he is innocent! His death on 5 July 2021, whilst still incarcerated is regarded as ‘institutional murder’! Human rights defenders, journalists, activists, academics, NGOs and others who take a stand for justice and have the courage speak truth to power have had to pay a heavy price. There are many from civil society who have had to face the wrath of a regime which is vicious and vindictive. These include besides those in the Bhima -Koregaon case the likes of Teesta Setalvad, Sanjiv Bhatt, R.B. Sreekumar, G. N. Saibaba, Umar Khalid, Medha Patkar, Arundhati Roy, Sheikh Showkat Hussain and several others. This regime brooks neither dissent nor criticism proving that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

There are the whole range of anti-people, draconian laws/ policies which have been hurriedly pushed through. These include the new Criminal Laws, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the National Education Policy, the anti – conversion laws, the anti-farmer (pro-Corporate) farm laws, the four labour codes, the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, the Uniform Civil Code passed by the State of Uttarakhand, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ report. All these have been designed, in tone and letter to decimate the Constitution; to take away the rights of the people. There is no doubt about that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

The Environment is in a shambles! In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index, India was ranked last 176 out of 180 countries! The destruction of precious forest lands and bio-diversity, to cater to so-called ‘development’ projects contribute immensely to the climatic changes one experiences today. The 2023 Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act provides that the de-reservation of reserved forests, use of forest land for non-forest purpose, assigning forest land by way of lease or otherwise to private entity, precious water bodies in the urban areas are land-filled, causing floods. Most major rivers in the country are polluted; there is over-dependence on fossil fuel. Even today coal blocks are auctioned to crony capitalist friends of the Government. Sections of the corporate sector and particularly the mining mafia–have no qualms of conscience, in depleting precious natural resources, with the sole desire of profiteering. Today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

Corruption is mainstreamed in the country; practically nothing can be done without greasing the palms of those at the control wheels. Politicians from opposition parties are easily bought up. The ruling regime has made mindboggling amounts of money through demonetisation and the sale of electoral bonds (EB). Corruption has become new normal in India. The massive and unprecedented scam of the Electoral Bonds) rocked the nation a short while ago! Fortunately, the pathbreaking judgement on the EB by the Supreme Court on 15 February, has exposed the corruption, the lack of transparency and accountability of the current regime.  Through the EB they have amassed huge amounts of money. 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! In accordance with law, the Apex Court dismissed the petition and the SBI had to comply with the order or face charges of contempt of court. They finally provided the data on 12 March. On 14 March, the Election Commission uploaded some of the details on their website. The SC once again came heavily down on the SBI on 15 March, for not revealing complete details of these bonds. Transparency International ranked India 93 out of 180 countries in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The BJP regime under Modi must be the most corrupt amongst the world democracies reiterating the fact that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’ 

This regime has compromised and corrupted constitutional and independent authorities like the Election Commission (ECI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the National Human Rights Commission, the police and even sections of the judiciary. A new incisive report just released by #votefordemocracy (VFD) analyses the vote manipulation and the misconduct during voting and counting in the recently concluded General Elections 2024.  With evidence, the Report shows that the ECI was in the pocket of the BJP. The elections were clearly stolen from the people of India in at least 75 seats, reaffirming that, today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

In Parliament, the opposition is not allowed to speak freely: they are shouted down or the mike is muted. The body language of particularly the Speaker of the Lok Sabha towards the opposition is one of hostility, important remarks are expunged whereas the treasury benches are allowed to get away with lies, half-truths and venom! Important and critical debates on pressing issues which impact the people of India are not allowed! If elected representatives of the people are not allowed to make the peoples voices heard in Parliament means that today, is worse than the ‘emergency!’

The joke is that, a few days ago the Home Minister speaking on behalf of the Government, declared June 25 will be observed every year as ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’, which loosely translates to ‘the day the Constitution was killed’.  Pathetic indeed! If the Constitution was ‘killed’ almost fifty years ago what was the BJP doing all these years, in their first term in power and since 2014, when the Modi took charge?  That means they were running the country without a constitution? They have indeed reached such a low level of fascism that they are unable even to think rationally and objectively! Instead, they need to realise that today, is worse than the ‘emergency’ and it will continue to be so, till the day they and their ilk, like the evil Holika, are consigned to oblivion!

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

The post TODAY, is WORSE than the ‘EMERGENCY!’ appeared first on SabrangIndia.

He added, that it is against the Constitutional mandate of Article 25 of the Constitution which does not provide for religious conversion, it only provides freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion. The Court also noted that in several cases unlawful activity of conversion of people of SC/ST castes and other castes including economically poor persons into Christianity is being done at rampant pace throughout the State of Uttar Pradesh. The Court on expected lines, denied bail to the accused.

Exactly a week later, on 9 July, the same judge Agarwal sang the exact same tune, denying bail to yet another accused in a case of alleged ‘illegal conversion’. He observed that the right to freedom of conscience and religion cannot be constituted as the right to convert others! He once again categorically stated that, “The Constitution confers on each individual the fundamental right to profess, practice and propagate his religion. However, the individual right to freedom of conscience and religion cannot be extended to construe a collective right to proselytize; the right to religious freedom belongs equally to the person converting and the individual sought to be converted.” 

The High Court referred to certain sections of the UP Government’s anti- conversion law of 2021. It noted that Section 3 of the 2021 Act clearly prohibits conversion from one religion to another based on misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, and allurement. It further observed, that the Act provides for punishment for contravention of the provisions of the section, which also restricts a person from abetting, convincing, or conspiring to such conversion. Further, the Court stated, that the Act was enacted keeping in view Article 25 of the Constitution of India, which does not allow or permit any citizen to convert any citizen from one religion to another religion. Bail was also denied to the accused in this case!

Within a week, the same judge gave similar orders (patently unconstitutional) and denied bail to the accused. The charges against the alleged accused are unwarranted and unsubstantiated. The counsel of the accused, in the second case, had categorically submitted to the High Court that, ‘the FIR does not identify any “religion converter” as defined by Section 2(I)(i) of the 2021 Act. It was further submitted that the witnesses’ statements alleging undue influence for conversion were unsubstantiated. Finally, it was contended that no person who had converted to Christianity came forward to lodge a complaint. On the other hand, the AGA submitted that a case under Section 3/5 of the Act of 2021 was made out against the applicant, a resident from Andhra Pradesh.’ 

The points in contention, are the following:

• Article 25 of the Constitution (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion) guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate one’s religion, to all citizens;
• whoever has claimed that Article 25 gives one ‘the right to convert’?
• however, if one (an adult) freely embraces (converts to) another religion of one’s choice or for that matter, ‘stops believing that God exists’, who is the State or the Court to intervene?
• where is it written that ‘collective’ propagation of one’s religion, is not permitted?
• Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (to which India is a signatory) states, “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance”.
• denying a person bail, when it is not a serious crime, goes against the principle of natural justice

Interestingly, several BJP- ruled States in the country have enacted anti-conversion laws (Rajasthan may be the next State to do so).  This is clearly a ploy, a bogey, to defocus from more serious issues which plague the country today!  Without any statistics to defend his arguments, Justice Agarwal is very frightened that “the majority population will become a minority in India one day” Even if his funda ‘fears’ are true, he will first need to answer the question WHY? Why are the people of India embracing Christianity or for that matter, any other religion?

Instead of ‘criminalising conversions’, the learned judge should take a cue from Dr B. R. Ambedkar and his conversion to Buddhism! Ambedkar’s conversion to Buddhism was not born of fantasy nor was it a sudden overnight decision. He had spent over twenty years studying various religions and discerning which one would be most suited for him and the down-trodden masses for whom he spoke. Addressing a huge gathering of Mahars in Bombay in May 1936 he transparently shared his ideas on conversion and why he considered it to be the best and only route towards emancipation. He unequivocally and courageously stated, “I tell you all very specifically, religion is for man and not man for religion; to get human treatment, convert yourselves”

Significantly, on 1 April 2021, the Gujarat Legislative Assembly amended the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act 2003 which deals with instances of forcible religious conversions for marriage. This newly enacted amendment was challenged before the Gujarat High Court through writ petitions, on the grounds that it violated certain fundamental rights.  The Gujarat High Court passed an interim order prohibiting its application to inter-faith marriages. Observations of the Court in the aforementioned order provide useful insights in the aspects of freedom of marriage, free choice, and their significance under Article 21 of the Constitution of India (Right to Life). The Court also questioned the constitutional validity of such an “anti-conversion” law in light of established judicial precedents.

Addressing a public gathering on the 2003 Gujarat Law at the Nehru Centre in London on 11 June 2003, eminent Jurist and former Solicitor General of India, the late Mr. Soli Sorabjee said, “The Gujarat legislation goes one step further and provides that the person who is converted has also to seek permission from the District Magistrate about the fact of such conversion. Failure to comply with these statutory provisions invites severe punishment of imprisonment and fine. These provisions are objectionable. They intrude on a person’s right to privacy. One’s religious belief is essentially a private matter as is conversion from one’s religion to another.  It is a result of deep-seated inner convictions. The State laws have the effect of deterring genuine conversions and impairing the substance of religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. These laws have further shaken the confidence of the minority communities and accentuated their sense of insecurity.”

Instead of pathetically exposing his communal mindset, there is plenty, which the Allahabad High Court judge, needs to learn on Constitutional matters: justice and propriety!

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

The post Criminalising ‘Conversions’! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

For those who don’t know or don’t remember, these passages from Sacred Scripture will help put things in perspective:

And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray from Sacred Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born. “Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” (Mt. 26: 21-25) …. While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him. “Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend. “Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. (Mt. 26: 47-50)

Powerful and real passages from Sacred Scripture of how the ‘kiss of Judas’ was actually the very opposite, of what a ‘kiss’ is actually meant to symbolise. Jesus, who believed and lived ‘the truth’ never minced words when he took on the powerful of his times:  the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the Pilates and the Herods and all those who laid heavy burdens on the poor and marginalised. He referred to them as ‘a brood of vipers’, and ‘whitened sepulchres. In the Gospel of St Mathew (23:1-12) we read, “Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’s seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it, but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others, for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father, the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted”.

Every year, the leaders of the world’s seven largest economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan. United Kingdom and the United States (the European Union is also part of this group) meet to discuss economic and political issues at the Group of Seven, or G7, Summit. These annual events are organised and hosted by a different member each time. They met in Apulia Italy from 13- 15 June this year. The host also invites some other countries as guests to this summit. This year, Italy invited Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and the Vatican City to the summit. South Africa was also invited but declined because of the change in government there. So, twelve other countries were also present including the heads of the UN and major international financial institutions.

The highlight of this G-7 Summit was the presence of Pope Francis, who addressed them on ‘Artificial Intelligence’ and its effects on humanity. It was historic, that a Pope would participate in such a summit and in fact give a path-breaking speech which found prime place in the final communique of the Summit!

As the Pope was wheeled into the hall of the Summit on 14 June, he was given a rousing ovation by the World leaders and others gathered there. Some of them personally greeted him with the civility and decorum, which is befitting when one head of State greets the other! Towards the end of the line was Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. Taking the Holy Father off-guard, Modi bent down and gave the Pope what resembled a bear-hug! Such acts are just not done! Despite the fact that he was on a wheelchair, the Pope literally had no choice, but remained courteous enough to accept the hug! Fortunately, most of the world media, did not highlight that hug- though sections of the Indian ‘godified’ and ‘modified’ media did so!

Those who know Modi and his dramatics, will easily agree, that his hugging the Pope has nothing to do with Pope Francis! Modi is fundamentally a showman, an opportunist, who loves photo-ops, glaring at cameras and at times even insisting that the cameras focus only on him! There are many examples to authenticate this! For example, some time ago when he had to meet his ailing mother in Gandhinagar, he did not step out of his car, till the cameramen (who were late) had arrived and taken their positions inside the house! Unfortunately, for him, this time, he was unable to look into the cameras, whilst hugging the Pope!

Modi has gone on record saying that he has invited Pope Francis to India! He also said this, after he met Pope Francis in the Vatican late October 2021. Since then, the Government of India has not extended an official invitation to the Pope to come to India! Modi could have easily ensured that but did not do so! Modi is a master in making promises, in bluffing and manipulating things to his advantage. Unfortunately, in the past ten years and more, many have fallen prey to his false promises, mastery of words and in his unparalleled skill in deflecting from real issues that plague the country!

Millions of Indians (Christians and non-Christians) would be delighted if Pope Francis actually comes to India. There is no doubt of that! Besides Pope Francis, given his penchant for the poor and the marginalised, the excluded and the exploited, will need to have his visits planned; both the hosts and the organisers would do well to include the following visits in the Papal itinerary:

• to Manipur: to bring solace to the Kukis and other victims there, who still are at the receiving end of a brutal, violent, insensitive regime. Most of the victims are Christians and/or tribals.
• to Jharkhand: the Adivasi heartland of India- to see how the indigenous peoples of India are being deprived of their legitimate jal-jungle-jameen.
• to West Bengal: to meet with those Bengalis who came into India more than fifty years ago during the Bangladesh war of Independence and are now being treated as illegal migrants.
• to UP: where Muslims are the victims of a bull-dozer raj, just because they do not toe the line, or some meat is apparently found in their fridge.
• to Taloja jail, where there are still some incarcerated in the Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy case; his own Jesuit brother Fr Stan Swamy was the victim of an institutional murder on 5 July 2021.
• to the coastal region of Trivandrum where thousands of indigenous coastal people have lost their livelihood because of the Adani port.

Besides, Pope Francis will have many other concerns which he would like express, these could include:

• On the Freedom of Speech and Expression: of how writers, intellectuals, human rights defenders are being subjugated in the country
• On the Freedom of Religion: of the draconian anti-conversion laws being brought in by this Government particularly in the States they govern (Rajasthan planning one now)
• On the way this Government treats refugees and migrants particularly the Rohingyas – whom Pope Francis addressed as his brothers and sisters
• On the Government’s Environment record which is one of the worst in the world
• On the fact that a few rich are becoming richer at the expense of the poor
• On the quality of political life in India and the fact that democracy is meticulously being dismantled
• On the growing unemployment in the country

Pope Francis will have his plate very full if and when he is invited to India- and if he actually comes!

Modi would not have understood the significance and importance of the four gifts which Pope Francis presented him with in the Vatican in October 2021. They were also about ‘good governance’ and what a good ruler should be doing today!

When Pope Francis addressed the G-7 Summit on 14 June on ‘Artificial Intelligence’ he spoke rather strongly saying among other things, “This is precisely where political action is urgently needed. The Encyclical Fratelli Tutti reminds us that “for many people today, politics is a distasteful word, often due to the mistakes, corruption and inefficiency of some politicians. There are also attempts to discredit politics, to replace it with economics or to twist it to one ideology or another. Yet can our world function without politics? Can there be an effective process of growth towards universal fraternity and social peace without a sound political life?” …. Our answer to these questions is: No! Politics is necessary! I want to reiterate in this moment that “in the face of many petty forms of politics focused on immediate interests […] ‘true statecraft is manifest when, in difficult times, we uphold high principles and think of the long-term common good. Political powers do not find it easy to assume this duty in the work of nation-building’ much less in forging a common project for the human family, now and in the future”.. My reflection on the effects of artificial intelligence on humanity leads us to consider the importance of “healthy politics” so that we can look to our future with hope and confidence. I have written previously that “global society is suffering from grave structural deficiencies that cannot be resolved by piecemeal solutions or quick fixes. Much needs to change, through fundamental reform and major renewal. Only a healthy politics, involving the most diverse sectors and skills, is capable of overseeing this process. An economy that is an integral part of a political, social, cultural and popular programme directed to the common good could pave the way for ‘different possibilities which do not involve stifling human creativity and its ideals of progress, but rather directing that energy along new channels” 

Not sure if Modi was listening to Pope Francis or if he did listen, whether he understood the significance of what was said particularly in the context of present India! Interestingly, the final communique of the G-7 speak of many things besides Artificial Intelligence, they include Ukraine, Gaza, Africa, Climate change, migration – but there is practically no reference to India or the role the country could be playing on the world stage today!

‘Humbug’ is best described as false talk and behaviour, deception!  The hug from a humbug says it all!

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

The post The Hug of a Humbug! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

First in October 2022 and then again in October 2023, the All India Network of NGOs and Individuals Working with National and State Human Rights Institutions (AiNNI) submitted detailed civil Society reports to GANHRI.

Both these reports unequivocally stated and with irrefutable evidence that the NHRCI had failed to uphold its mandate to protect and promote human rights in India. There is absolutely nothing right’ with India’s Human Rights Commission and to say that, volumes can be written of this pathetic state of affairs, is surely an understatement! Several global indicators and even national ones, provide fool-proof data to substantiate this!

The prestigious Swedish V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Report 2024, finds India to be in the bottom 40-50% of the 179 countries reviewed and puts it at one of the top ten ‘autocratisers’ in recent times. India dropped down to electoral autocracy in 2018 and continues to remain there.

India’s autocratization process is well documented, including gradual but substantial deterioration of freedom of expression, compromising independence of the media, crackdowns on social media, harassments of journalists critical of the government, as well as attacks on civil society and intimidation of the opposition.

The ruling anti-pluralist, Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm has for example, used laws on sedition, defamation, and counterterrorism to silence critics.

The Government has undermined the Constitution’s commitment to secularism by amending the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in 2019. The Modi-led government also continues to suppress the freedom of religion rights. intimidation of political opponents and people protesting government policies, as well as silencing of dissent in academia. All this, clearly blatant violation of human rights!

A study by the research group the ‘World Inequality Lab, (mid-March 2024), found that the wealth concentrated in the richest 1% of India’s population is at its highest in six decades and the percentage share of income exceeds that of countries including Brazil and the United States.

The study highlighted the fact that by the end of 2023, India’s richest citizens owned 40.1% of the country’s wealth, the highest since 1961, and their share of total income was 22.6%, the most since 1922. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen with the growing impoverishment of vulnerable sections of society!

On March 20, the UN’s International Happiness Day, The World Happiness Report was published by the UNs Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The Report takes into account six variables: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, freedom to make life choices, generosity, and freedom from corruption. India was ranked a pathetic 126 out of 143 countries surveyed.

Corruption has indeed become new normal: India has undoubtedly the most corrupt government since independence! The unprecedented scam of the Electoral Bonds (EB) rocks the nation- it is regarded by some as ‘the world’s biggest scam’! Fortunately, the orders of the Supreme Court have necessitated the opening of the Pandora’s box, revealing how corrupt the ruling party is. With demonetisation in 2016, the ruling regime amassed a huge amount of wealth.  The ‘PM Cares Fund’, which is shrouded in secrecy, has accumulated huge sums of money.

There is the rise of majoritarianism, best indicated in the unbridled power of a fascist ideology termed as hindutva’. Religious intolerance is mainstreamed.

The demonisation and discrimination of minorities (Muslims, Christians and Sikhs), happens with frightening regularity with hate speeches and targeted violence.

A recent report by an independent private agency has detailed 601 attacks on Christian personnel/ institutions in 2023.  Violence on the Kuki tribal population (mainly Christian) which began on May 3, 2023, still continues with obvious approval from the BJP Governments both in Manipur State and at the Centre.

On March 16,a group of International Students in the University Hostel in Ahmedabad whilst praying their namaaz, were brutally attacked by hindutva elements. The anti -conversion laws in BJP-ruled States clearly undermine Constitutional Article 25, the Freedom to preach, practice and propagate ones religion.

The World Press Freedom Index 2023 ranked India 161 out of 180 countries. Human rights defenders, dissenters and all those who stand up for truth and justice are harassed, incarcerated and even killed. The renowned Delhi University Professor G. N. Sai Baba was falsely implicated in a case, languished in jail for ten years and was finally acquitted on March 5!  There are still several Human Rights Defenders languishing in jail, among them those incarcerated in the Bhima- Koregoan conspiracy case.

Opposition leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Hemant Soren, Rahul Gandhi, Mahua Moitra have false cases foisted on them and even jailed!  There are draconian, prejudiced policies (all designed to decimate the Constitution) which include the Citizenship Amendment Act (the rules of which have just come into force), the National Education Policy, the anti-farmer (pro-Corporate) farm laws, the four labour codes, the Forest Conservation Amendment Act. Constitutional bodies like the Election Commission, the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, the NIA, the Income-Tax, the police and even sections of the judiciary are compromised.

The Environment Performance Index 2022, by the World Economic Forum, ranks India last among 180 countries. The UNs Human Development Report 2023-24. ranked India 134 out of 193 countries.

The tragedy is that despite all this being in the public domain and from impartial, impeccable sources, the NHRCI has not found it appropriate to take cognisance of any of the above and to come out with statements, order investigations and publish their own independent findings!

On the contrary, it has over the years, clearly been a mouth-piece of the ruling regime and has not dared to taken on the Government when it has promoted or acquiesced with/in human rights violations. Not only on the above, but on several other counts, the NHRCI has failed to comply with the Paris Principles and to address the deteriorating human rights situation in India.

In a very detailed open letter entitled ‘Review of the Accreditation Status of the National Human Rights Commission of India’ (dated March 26, 2024)  and addressed  to the Chairperson of  the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI),  nine of the world’s best known  human rights organisations including  Amnesty International stated, “The cumulative picture that emerges reflects the NHRCIs and the Indian governments clear lack of political will to act and the apparent reluctance to effectively respond to and address the deteriorating human rights violations in the country and to uphold transparency and accountability.

The failure to create a truly independent NHRCI stands to perpetuate impunity and hinder any effort to ensure that the Indian authorities respect and uphold human rights. Therefore, taking into consideration the clear defiance of the SCAs recommendations in 2006, 2011, 2016, 2017 and most recently in 2023, by the NHRCI, we strongly urge your office to evaluate the NHRCIs rating carefully during the upcoming accreditation process”

It goes without saying that the NHRCI, since it belongs to the people of India and accountable primarily, to the people of India – must make an immediate, concerted and conscientious efforts to change for the better by responding impartially and pro-actively to the growing human rights violations in the country! Whether the NHRCI will have the audacity, objectivity and honesty to do so, is anyone’s guess!  

(The author is a renowned human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer. He is the recipient of several international and national awards. He is also a member of AiNNI )

The post Nothing ‘Right’ about India’s Human Rights Commission appeared first on SabrangIndia.

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, practise 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 Adivasi’s, 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 path breaking 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 has 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 path breaking 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. B. R. 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!”                                                                     

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

The post Constitutional Challenges! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

In a landmark judgment, the bench of Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan held that the eleven convicts (who were given remission) have to report back to the jail authorities within two weeks and have to continue to remain in jail. The bench clearly stated that the Gujarat government was not empowered to pass the remission order, since the appropriate government entitled to pass orders of remission was the government of the State where the trial had taken place; in this particular case, it was the Government of Maharashtra and not that of Gujarat, which was the competent authority, to even consider remission

The 251-pages judgment, is bound to have wide ranging repercussions; a key para states, “On competence of Gujarat government to pass remission orders, it is apparent that appropriate government had to take permission of the court before passing remission orders. This means that place of occurrence or place of imprisonment of convicts are not relevant for remission. The definition of appropriate government is otherwise. The intention of the government is that the State under whom the convict was tried and sentenced was the appropriate government. This places emphasis on the place of trial and rather than where the crime took place,”

The judges also came down heavily on the Gujarat Government: stating that it was complicit in the crime for not filing a review plea against the May 2022 judgment and instead acting in tandem with the convicts and usurping the Maharashtra government’s jurisdiction to grant remission to convicts. “It was the State of Maharashtra who could have only passed the remission orders respondent no 3 surreptitiously filed the plea before the Supreme Court. Taking advantage of May 13, 2022 order of this Court, other convicts also filed remission applications and the Gujarat government passed remission orders…Gujarat was complicit and acted in tandem with respondent no. 3 in this case. This Court was misled by suppressing facts. Use of power by Gujarat was only a usurpation of power by the State,”

In great detail, the judgement clearly exposed all the fraudulent tactics the convicts used, as well as how Gujarat’s government acted in tandem with them, in securing their un-merited and premature release from prison via reduction of sentences through a sham process of remission, albeit under the erroneous directions from the Supreme Court itself. The Court also came down strongly on one of the convicts, Radhyesham, for playing fraud upon the Court by suppressing material facts and getting a favourable order from the top court in May 2022 which eventually led to the release of all the eleven convicts. It unequivocally stated that the May 2022 judgment was obtained by fraud and therefore not good in law.

In order to understand a bit of what Bilkis has been going through, it is important to revisit that horrendous tragedy of almost twenty -two years ago. Following the burning of the S-6 compartment and tragic death of 59 persons (mainly ‘kar sevaks’) on 27 February 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 Randhikpur in Dahod district. The group consisted of 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 (those currently on remission). 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 some 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”.

Since then, Bilkis has relived the horror of that tragedy several times, as she unwaveringly, but with great pain, narrates the brutality that she was subject to. 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?”

Any lesser mortal would have given up; but not Bilkis Bano! With her husband Yakub Rasool (who was away from home when home when violence broke out) who has stood by her side, through thick and thin, she has been able to weather all storms! At first, Bilkis could hardly open her mouth. With the help of some concerned citizens, she slowly regained her confidence and realised that she was the key witness in bringing the perpetrators of this heinous crime to book. She plucked up courage and began a painful struggle for truth and justice.  She knew who the murderers and the rapists were, and she courageously identified them. The journey all along was fraught with obstacles and hostilities; threats and intimidation. The Gujarat Government, with Narendra Modi at the helm, was obviously supportive of the criminals who raped her and killed her family members. The FIR was manipulated; the medical reports and post-mortem of the bodies omitted significant details; evidence was destroyed, since all the dead were buried by the police themselves; the body of her three-year-old disappeared. The prosecution sided with the accused; the lower court which heard her case upheld all the falsehood and the lies. The case was finally closed!

Bilkis however, persisted; her pursuit for truth and justice was relentless. The then National Human Rights Commission (a far cry from the NHRC of today, which is totally spineless, which blatantly supports the crimes of the regime) received her petition and conducted its own independent inquiry and totally supported her case. She then appealed to the Supreme Court. In 2004, the case was reopened and referred to the CBI. Twelve of the twenty accused were arrested in 2004 and the trial began in Ahmedabad. However, after Bilkis expressed grave apprehensions that witnesses could be harmed and the evidence collected by the CBI tampered with, the Supreme Court transferred the case to Mumbai. Bilkis was the only direct eye-witness. She was constantly under threat.  For her own safety, she had to move from one place to another. In 2008, the Special Court sentenced eleven accused (one died during the trial) to life imprisonment on the charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code. The police and the doctors who were accused of being complicit in fudging reports were exonerated; but in May 2017, on an appeal from the CBI, the Bombay High Court upheld the sentencing and also found the doctors and police guilty. One of the judges, Judge Salvi termed Bilkis’ “courageous deposition as the turning point in the case.” In 2019, the Supreme Court awarded compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Bilkis — the first such order in a case related to the 2002 riots. The bench of the then, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna stated, “It is very apparent that what should not have happened has happened and the state has to give compensation.” 

Sadly, on Independence Day 2022, the nation was in for a terrible shock when those who were imprisoned were set free by the Gujarat Government! The convicts set free were, Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhyesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt and Ramesh Chandana. The moment they came out of prison, the rapists and the murderers, were felicitated by the ‘hindutva’ brigade with ladoos and garlands. Significantly, the moment their remission order was received, they were out of the gates of the prison. (For human rights defenders and others illegally incarcerated, even after the release or bail order is received by the jail authorities, it takes hours and even several days, for them to come out of prison!) Besides, the convicts, all seemed to have enjoyed their ‘sentence’ – fatted, well-dressed and groomed. Most prisoners in India are certainly not as privileged as these henchmen of ‘hindutva’. It was back to square one for Bilkis, her kith and kin, for the many victim survivors of the Gujarat Carnage, for human rights defenders and others who have given up so much for these victim survivors) and for the many millions of others.

The world and all citizens who care for truth and justice, were outraged at the fact that the eleven criminals had their sentences remitted. For such a ghastly crime, this ‘remission’ is just not given! Officialdom tried to justify this act: with flimsy and unacceptable reasons. Social media went viral, with people from all walks of life coming together to express condemnation. Leading newspapers (nationally and internationally) had editorials and op-eds clearly taking a stand against this remission. Interestingly, even some of the ‘godified’ electronic media, named the RSS and the VHP in their reportage. Powerful statements of condemnation came in from eminent citizens, intellectuals, politicians, activists and others from across the board. The voice of all was loud and clear: this act is a blatant travesty of justice.

On August 17, 2022, Bilkis stated, “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.”

Fortunately, women stalwarts like CPI(M) leader and activist Subhashini Ali, former professor Roop Rekha Verma and journalist Revati Laul who took up cudgels on behalf of Bilkis. They jointly filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat government’s remission and release order; others like TMC leader Mahua Moitra and former IPS officer Meeran Chadha also joined in. Besides there was a whole battery of committed and brilliant lawyers (mainly women) who were convinced that the cause of truth and justice had to triumph for Bilkis, for the women of India and ultimately, for the future of the country! For more than sixteen months, Bilkis waited patiently, till her vindication, with the path breaking verdict of 8 January 2024!

The convicts have to return to jail as per the Court order! That is clear! According to media reports, most of them have ‘vanished into thin air’; if they are not back in jail in two weeks, the Apex Court may have to charge and imprison those responsible for the remission order (including key people from the Gujarat and Central Governments)! On the question of sending the convicts back to the jail, the Court held that rule of law has to prevail over the liberty of the convicts. The Court stated, “Rule of law does not mean protection to a fortunate few. In ADM Jabalpur, Justice Khanna had said rule of law is the antithesis to arbitrariness. We hold justice cannot be done without adherence to the rule of law,”. Further stating, “We hold that deprivation of liberty to the respondents is justified. They have lost their right to liberty once they were convicted and imprisoned. if they want to seek remission in accordance with law then they have to be in jail. Rule law must prevail. Thus, all respondents are directed to report to jail authorities within two weeks,”

When the judgment was delivered, the Gujarat Government was on the eve of launching its vibrant tamasha at the expense of the tax-payer! MOUs of a mind-boggling amount were signed; the plain truth is that (and everybody knows it!) very little will actually materialise, as past evidence shows! Instead, the Gujarat Government, together with the other criminals in the Central Government, need to hang their heads down in shame! They have reached such abysmal depths that they are unable to stand up for a poor rural woman who has been gang-raped and who has witnessed the rape and murder of her kith and kin! The judgment where the Bilkis Bano case is concerned, is certainly a shot in the arm for all those who believe in truth and justice; it has delivered a body blow to criminals who are part of a fascist regime! Of course, they are certain to make every effort to look for ‘loop-holes’ in the judgment, in order to justify their criminal act and to see how best they can still keep their men out of prison!

In a powerful statement on hearing the path breaking verdict, Bilkis says, “today is truly the New Year for me. I have wept tears of relief. I have smiled for the first time in over a year and half. I have hugged my children. It feels like a stone the size of a mountain has been lifted from my chest, and I can breathe again. This is what justice feels like. I thank the honourable Supreme Court of India for giving me, my children and women everywhere, this vindication and hope in the promise of equal justice for all”

At this moment Bilkis Bano and all who believe in truth and justice, stand vindicated! Hopefully, it is new dawn, for we the people of India!

January 17, 2024

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

The post Bilkis Bano vindicated! appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Rosary School in Vadodara (Baroda) Gujarat is one of the premier educational institutions of the state of Gujarat. It is co-educational and run by the Society of Jesus. It caters to about 2,300 students from all walks of life. The school that was begun in 1935, provides quality education to make students women and men for others. It also boasts of alumni, who have contributed significantly to the nation- in public service, sports, and academia and research engagements and in other important spheres. It is therefore, not without reason, that Rosary School, is much sought -after by parents, for the education of their children.

On November 4, 2023, 19 days ago, the school had its Annual School Day celebrations. The first part, which lasted for about an hour, was devoted to customary items like lighting of the lamp, prayer dance (performed beautifully by the school staff), the Principal’s report, the Chief Guest’s speech, the prize distribution etc. Then one would naturally have expected the traditional items of song, dance and playlets to hold fort the normal stage presentations so typical on such Annual Days in most schools.

But NO! The massive gathering: parents, alumni, well-wishers and friends of the institution were treated to a performance, which few will ever forget.

The theme of the Annual Day was ‘Promoting and Safeguarding Constitutional Values. The huge backdrop catchingly emblazoned the theme with a picture of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the father of the Constituent Assembly and a picture of the Constitution of India. The entire programme, which went on for a non-stop two hours, highlighted the four non-negotiable values of the Constitution: justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. It was a moving spectacle in song, dance and mime. Class after class (from the KG to Std. XII) they came; they regaled, engaged and conscientised the audience in meaningful ways. More than seven hundred students participated in a performance, which was simply brilliant, touching and heart stopping.

The tiny-tots of the kindergarten set the ball rolling. They were all beautifully dolled up in the image and likeness of those who fought for India’s freedom and ensured India’s independence from colonial rule on 15 August 1947. The children confidently paraded in royal style, to the cheers of the audience and with the commentator highlighting the significant role each of these played in making India a free nation.  From a mini Mahatma Gandhi to Jhansi ki Rani: they were all there! It was an out- of this world performance by tiny tots, who helped bring back memories of those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

The audience was then transported to August  29, 1947, with the appointment of the seven members to be on Drafting Committee for the new Constitution .The members of this Drafting Committee were certainly look-alikes of the original. The student who played the role of Ambedkar was certainly a chotta version of the original. The accents and articulations of each of these members, besides their names, magnificently communicated their cultural and ethnic backgrounds, which spoke volumes of the wealth of diversity in India. They were the link that bonded the entire programme. It was evident that painstaking research was put in, to ensure that this group of students would create the necessary impact.

The post Celebrating Constitutionality! appeared first on SabrangIndia.