tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64587710643854210222024-03-04T21:38:06.001-08:00josekan.blogspot.comProf. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-88991400939272107032017-12-07T20:13:00.002-08:002017-12-07T20:13:32.167-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><u><span lang="EN-IN">OLD ABOVE SIXTY IS HASTLE FREE YUVA DAY</span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-IN">Prof</span></u></b><b><u><span lang="EN-IN"> . Joseph K Alexander</span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">Anthyalankavu St. Mary’s church is a small parish near
Pathanamthitta. It was celebrating its seventy fifth anniversary and honouring
its 17 members above seventy five. I was a speaker in that public meeting. I Thought I would give pep to the seventeen
frail weak, bent, stooping and trotting guests called for honour. I said to day
man is expected to live up to a full 120 years or a little more as decided by
God (Genesis 6:3) . So you are all in your youth. Arise, stand
erect and be agile and vigorous to live another 50 years in this world. You can
do that with God on your side to help.</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">Adam lived up to 930 and his son Seth 912 years. They were all God’s children who lead upright
down to earth life in Aden and around. Later
Adam and his tribe mingled with others and became wicked. God decided to
destroy all of them. He created a flood
and everything on earth were drowned to
death except Noah and his children and a male and female of every living animate
– men, animals, birds, liana beings, trees and plants. God gave the earth to these
survivors and blessed them to multiply and enjoy. But in course of time they
also became wicked. So God didn’t want men made in his own image to lead such
wicked lives for so long. He said “man hereafter shall live only up to a 120 years”.
Thus it was God who decided that man shall live to a 120. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">This is truer of Kerala where modern health facilities
are available all over the State. The
average age of Indians was 24 in the 1940s. But today Kerala is on a par with
the Scandinavian countries where the average age is above 80. We are catching
up with their records. The gerentological research team gives a long list of
people who lived for nearly 120 years. Emma Morane of Italy is the oldest
living person, 118 years. Jeanne Clement of France was 122 and 165 days when
she died in 1997. Living up to a 120 is becoming common. Japan has larger
number than any other country of elderly above 100.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">Kurichi Bava H. H. Basleius Geevarghese IInd,
Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan used to say when he was old (died in
1964 aged 90) that man shall live only up to seventy or a maximum of eighty
years. This is quotation from Psalms 90: 10 a song of Moses. All other chapters
in Psalms is said to be songs of David. This alone is different and is stated
to be of Moses who led the Jews from their bondage in Egypt under the Pharaohs
to Canaan, the Promised Land.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">This statement of Moses do not contradict God’s dictum
of 120 for man. The Jews from Egypt questioned God during their great
emancipation voyage and always murmured during the Journey for want of food water
and other comforts. So God decided that none of them shall see the promised Canaan.
Moreover they are remnants of slave labourers in Egypt. God wanted more sturdy resistant
warriors born in the deserts of Sinai to conquer the inhabitants of Canaan. In other words all who started from Egypt were
forced to meander for forty years in the Sinai desert so that all of them died
before the end of the journey at Canaan. Even Moses their leader was not
spared. He walked up the mountain top and was a given a far off glimpse of
Canaan and died somewhere on Mt. Nebo. This was the background of the statement
of Moses in Psalms that all the emigrant voyagers shall die in forty plus 70 or
80 to complete the 120 promised by God. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">So now those above sixty and retired from official
life are in their middle age and</span></b><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
must look forward to live in this world usefully for the next sixty years. Most
of the Nobel Prize winners of the World are and were around 50 or 60. Imagination
run riot in the teen age. But they form into concrete ideas and inventions much
later in years and through intense incentives and insights. True there were
exceptions to this.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are 3 customary stages in the life of man- Youth,
Middle Age, Old age. Youth have plenty of imagination, energy, vitality for new
ideas. But, no money to go forward. In middle age you have money; but no time
to spare- fully engaged in your pursuits and personal life. In the retired life
one has plenty of time and enough money to live on. This is the period in your life when you are
hassle free. No problem with your children. They are all married and well
settled in life. Sixty is your YOUVA time.
You are graduating from youth to middle age. It is your happy YUVA days. Keep every neurons and cells in your brain
and every muscle in your physical body active, engaged and energetic. Give
sufficient exercises to neurons and muscles to keep you in YUVA form. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After sixty you are entering into a new life. Think of the
possibilities of utilising your time and energy usefully to yourself and the
society around you. It is they and their explicit and implicit help and
thoughts that made you what you are. It is your duty to repay them for all their
support in procreating you to be what you are today. Let us think of ways of
utilising your time, energy and money for the rest of the life.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Entering
into a new employment<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Accept
a social voluntary work in your church or temple<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Remember
your family members or class mates in the school / College and start an Alumni
association. Keep them in a regularly held meeting as highly integrated group. They
can help the weaker among you or in your neighbourhood. </span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Start
tuitions for the children in your village</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Open
a kinder garden for infants</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Be
a baby sitter for your grandchildren</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Help
grand children in their studies</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Write
your own events and challenges in life as a novel or articles.</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Start
a kitchen garden </span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Begin an anti-pollution movement in
your neighbourhood / join the Social or Government campaign as a volunteer.
This is the biggest problem now facing the earth. </span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Waste management is an equally
crucial issue facing the modern so-called cultured society. Become a volunteer
or organiser of such a movement in your locality.”Annan kunjumThannalaaythe”.</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span lang="EN-IN">12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Start a reader’s club for the
elderly. Every week end / suitable day, each member in rotation, will present
the summary of the book he read in that week, followed by a discussion.</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All
these except the first are non-remunerative and probably demanding some expense
on your part. You can think of any number of such engagements to keep your mind
and body agile and active. <br />
<br />
A Chinese message translated to English
came as e-mail message to me. It argued that parents in their life need not try
to accumulate wealth for their children.
First, your hard earned wealth in their time will turn out to be two
pence for them because of their comparatively higher income and devaluation of
money. Secondly, they are made to be parasites depending on your wealth for
their living. Make them to earn as much as they want for themselves. If you try to make them parasites they will
be yearning for your death so that they can get their due from your accumulated
wealth. So be joyful. Enjoy God-given life as much as you can in happiness.
Spend your life, health and wealth, and or give them away in your lifetime to
make needier others around you happier and earn your place in heaven with God. Wish
you all the 120 years of health, wealth and happiness.</span><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-IN">End<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-89461016282709845212017-12-05T04:35:00.001-08:002017-12-05T04:35:48.275-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>H G DR.ZACHARIAH MAR THEOPHILOS- A memoir-</b><br />
Prof. Joseph K. Alexander<br />
Late H G Dr. ZACHARIAH MAR THEOPHILOS was a big “Everest” of deep piety, church ethics, liturgical tradition, insistence of Qurbana before his daily breakfast however late it is, simple life, very ascetic in personal needs, service to his people, specially needy students or laity and priests, inseparable relation to his diocese, the MGOCSM and the Thadagam Asramam {[where, he constructed recently the three storied Divine Retreat Centre in 2016 costing Rs.77 lakhs]} to which he attached himself and his self sacrifice for their causes made students and youth –even elders- who came in contact or learnt about him to become his fan and adore him. No wonder the whole church and all who knew about him became sad on his demise. On Comparison we all are very small men made of small hand-full of sand.<br />
I came to know him first as a young deacon who after his degree from the Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla joined Old Seminary for his Theological diploma course and late the MGOCSM. On a Sunday in my travel from Malankara Quarters to Old Seminary Qurbana, he joined me and got acquainted. He was from Puthusery a village town near Kallupara, a similar small town. I had some cousins on my maternal side who were his school mates and friends. We updated our information about them. That meeting grew into a deep friendship till his lamented demise. Three months before his sad demise he came to my residence, as was his custom in Trivandrum trips, to pray for me ,my family members who are present and specially my ailing wife. That was my last intimate meeting. On getting on to his vehicle I said “Thirumeni you are in my prayer chain and I am continuing my prayers”, Then he sportingly said “now I have not two, but three cancers” I replied, “That is already included in the list”. Our common friend Anand Isaac from Bangalore hearing his critical state went and was with him on the last three days. He used to inform his last peaceful welcoming passing away moments three- four times daily. I lost a great intimate friend to whom I could confide and discuss any problem.<br />
Dr. Theophilos was great a reader, thinker, writer, inventor of short cryptic pregnant words to convey his ideas, and devotional leader. I remember writing forwards to a small prayer book and another catechetical book in English. After Bsc Maths, he did his diploma in Theology, GST- graduation in Theology-, BD-Bachelor of Divinity- from Serampore University, MTH from FFRC, from Serampore, Research on “Bible and Holy Land past and present” in Jerusalem, and a Doctorate of Ministry conferred by Valdimir Seminary, New Jersey.<br />
During his ministry in the MGOCSM as its book shop manager, warden of the Kottayam and Trivandrum Hostels, General Secretary from 1999 and Bishop Vice President of the Movement from 2005, he merged into the Movement that made him the Guru, institution builder and mentor of what MGOCSM is today. All its achievements from 1990 to 2010 are his own making.<br />
1. His construction projects first at Trivandrum MGOCSM commercial centre, repayment of all the loans taken by the movement from the people and the State Bank of India {( I was at his elbow in all his endeavours’ as senior Vice President of the Movement, director of those constructions and honorary treasurer of the Movement from 2002;)}<br />
2. Then he was General Secretary of MGOCSM and took up the construction of the Kottayam Student centre with Rs. 73 lakhs raised from his friends in USA after demolishing the dilapidated MGM Hostel.;<br />
3. MGOCSM Centenary Five Year plan (2004-2008) Projects inaugurated by the then Bava H H Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews IInd at Parumala Seminary during the inauguration of the Education Orientation Camp of 2004, were all his own ideas, --- The Schemes included a mega project of the translation of an Orthodox Study Bible from the original texts, catechetical audio-video for students, job-oriented short term courses. more student centres, an International Student and Youth Centre at Kottayam, sick-aid marriage aid, housing scheme for the poor , Total free education of deserving students from U. P. School standards, charity programes, Kottayam Student Centre with Counseling facilities etc. for housing the Career Guidance Centres, Job-oriented courses, and the development of the International Student and Youth Centre at Kottayam etc.<br />
4. He had confidence and tenacity to implement them with support from his Orientation student friends and public at large;<br />
5. The Movement (He) proposed to purchased 87 cents of land adjacent to Kottayam MGOCSM Study Centre; His incessant and continuous prayers every day to get funds to purchase this land finally materialised;<br />
6. His and Rev. Fr. Paul O I C of Bethany Asramam (L.L. H. G. Paulose Mar Pachomios) created intimate relation with the Education Orientation Camp students of each year of 50 to 75, from 1981 onwards; with active support from Thambu (Mr. K. C. Zacharia), chief co-coordinator of the camps. Including myself, all the four of us used to stay all the days of the camps with the children. They later became the ambassadors of our church wherever they went and started prayer groups and parishes. They became Dr. H G. Zachariah Mar Theophilos’ main lenders of over Rs. three crores in 2004-2005 for his mega projects;<br />
7. Construction of 53 flats in a 15 storied building and Centenary plaza of six stories of over 50,000 sq ft. later rented out to Karikineth Villagio for nearly Rs.15 lakhs per month.<br />
8. He was ready to go to the ends of the world with his very pleasing smile, to spread the motto of MGOCSM- “worship, study, service” despite his diabetics and homeopathic pills and other ailments to meet his Education Orientation Students and to conduct even Qurbana for the small group or start a unit of the MGOCSM among our students in remote areas or congregations of Orthodox students. I remember him going to northern states of India to conduct Qurbana for our students when the priests of the Delhi Diocese could not muster a priest for them. There was no limit for his self sacrifice. Just a few days before his demise he travelled with his smiling face all the way to Trivandrum in a night despite his knee, prostrate and vertebra cancer pain and chemo therapy to conduct the next morning (August 28th,2017 ) matrimony service of his chief aide and friend -MGOCSM Officer-Thambu’s ( Mr. K.C. Zacharia) daughter at Kallada parish church. .<br />
9. MOCSM made great strides including Mega construction projects worth Rs.40- 60 crores during the 1991 -2010 period—all Rev. M C Cherian Achen’s Ideas and<br />
funds that came through him. He believed in tithing and was always instilling it among his students and senior friends. It was while he went second time to USA for collecting funds for the Kottayam H G Philipose Mar Theophilos hall that he declared that 10 % of whatever funds that comes to his hands will be spent for charity. This promise made it easy for him to Collect Rs. 73 lakhs from the four parishes that he went in USA. He kept this tithe system to the very end of his life. I once send him some money specifying it for his personal treatment expenses. Soon came the reply mail thanking me with a statement that he has given a certain amount from that to a specific charity. This was his belief in tithing.<br />
10. Most of these schemes he started with confidence. On the assumption of full charge as the head of the Malabar Diocese he visited every home in the diocese- an herculean task- and the poverty and plight of the poor of his Diocese made him to promise more houses, sick-aid, marriage and educational aid. This commitment burdened his ever open purse and heart. The constant travel to Gulf, Europe, U S A. and to the needy and poor everywhere and the spiritual needs of his benefactors had its tell-tale on his health. He suffered cancer pain first while he was on a tour in USA which later spread to two more organs that ultimately led to his untimely and pre-mature death at 65.<br />
We lost a great soul who never lived for him, but for others and the glory of our Orthodox Church and its liturgy and traditions. He had great faith in Thailabhishekam sacrament as rejuvenator of health and spirits. He had it six or seven times—whenever he felt weak to start a new project or new journey. He was a Holy man. No one is holy except God. But we often say that the head of churches like our Bava or Patriarch or Pope of Rome as Holy. A man becomes Holy only when he repents for his sins and pray to God for absolution. If God pardons his sins he becomes Holy at least at that moment. We believe that our heads of churches incessantly pray to God for remission of sins and thus become Holy. In that sense Late Dr. H G ZACHARIAH MAR THEOPHILOS who conducted Holy Qurbana every day was seeking remission of his sins and was being pardoned by God. Hence I believe that he was as Holy like any other Holy ecclesiastical head of Churches. He was led away to Paradise with his ever smiling face by angels of God to the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all his kith and kin of yester years<br />
in heaven. May his prayers increase his tribe in the service of MGOCSM and Its students and youth? They have a great role to play in the future of our church. That Is the relevance of the MGOCSM as taught and shown to us by Late Lamented Dr. H G ZACHARIAH MAR THEOPHILOS .May his soul rest in peace.<br />
Note: Prof Joseph K Alexander, Retd. Director of Collegiate Education, Kerala Govt. is an economist and is a long associate of MGOCSM and shared in the service of the Movement and the Orthodox Church in various capacities.<br />
.</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-77716089657967873522017-08-02T03:44:00.000-07:002017-08-02T03:44:07.887-07:00A NOTE ON THE IMPACT OF DEMONETISATION IN INDIA. Prof. Joseph K Alexander, Chairman, KRB. IIPA Kerala. 2017 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>A NOTE ON THE IMPACT OF
DEMONETISATION IN INDIA.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<b>Prof. Joseph K
Alexander, Chairman, KRB. IIPA Kerala. 2017 </b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>economy of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">India</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)" title="List of countries by GDP (nominal)"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">seventh-largest</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in the world measured by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product" title="Gross domestic product"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">nominal GDP</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)" title="List of countries by GDP (PPP)"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">third-largest</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>by<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity" title="Purchasing power parity"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">purchasing power parity</span></a>(PPP).
India is a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newly_industrialised_country" title="Newly industrialised country"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">newly industrialised country</span></a>,
and one of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economies" title="G-20 major economies"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">G-20 major economies</span></a>, Despite
a higher growth during Liberalisation, Globalisation and Privatisation of the
economy in the 1990s and very low growth of 3.5 % during our economic planning
period up to 1991. India had an average growth rate of approximately 7%
over the last two decades, <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Two major domestic policy developments of 2016-’17 is the
passage of the Constitutional amendment, paving way for implementing the Goods
and Services Tax (GST), {including its
implementation in July 2017} and the demonetisation of the two highest
denomination notes with profound implications for the economy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The background facts of demonetisation are impressive.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->India’s
parallel economy created by black money; counterfeited Indian currency printed
outside in enemy countries and smuggled in bulk consignments into India, hawala
money brought by smugglers of contraband goods: gold and drugs</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Corruption
wilfully encouraged by election- campaign fund seeking politicians and their
agents, aiding bureaucrats, police, quotation mafia, and under links.
Transparency International in their 2016 Report ranks India as the 130<sup>th</sup>
worst corrupted of the 160 countries examined by them. Scandinavian countries -first
and second- are the least corrupt among them. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Prevalence
of black money created through tax evasion by not reporting whole income or a
part. Income is of two kinds. Well earned white money and ill-earned under the
table income not reported to the Income Tax authorities. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Un-earned
income in all purchases by the Government authorities assisted by the
bureaucrats in the different Ministries. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On November 8, 2016, the government “demonetized” two
largest denomination notes, Rs 500 and Rs 1000, with immediate effect as part
of . <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">country’s Swachh
Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign). “While the supply of notes of
all denominations had increased by 40% between 2011 and 2016, <u>the </u></span><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Rs.500
and Rs. 1000</span></u><u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"> banknotes increased by 76% and 109% respectively in this period owing
to forgery</span></u><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">. This forged cash was being used to fund terrorist activities against
India. Govt. </span>deprived their legal tender status, At one stroke; 86
percent of the cash in circulation (of Rs. 16, 63,600 crores in Oct. 2016) ,
ie; Rs.14,30 696 was thereby rendered invalid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There were two previous instances of demonetisation, in 1946
and 1978, the latter not having any significant effect on cash. India’s
demonetisation in 2016 is unprecedented in international economic history, in
that it combined <b>secrecy and suddenness</b>
amidst normal economic and political conditions (no war, internal uprising or
excessive issue of currency) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been a radical, unprecedented step with short term
costs and long term benefits. The liquidity squeeze was so severe that the
common man and daily wage earners suffered the most. India has given a new
expression of unconventional monetary policy, with the difference that whereas
advanced economies have focused on expanding the money supply, India’s
demonetisation has reduced it; a “reverse helicopter drop”: suddenly lifting
away 86 % of cash in circulation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In conventional Keynesian economics monetary policy is to
increase money supply to augment consumption and investment or reduce money
supply, through the central bank and the banking system, to get the reverse
effect to curb inflation or heating up of the economy. This Indian experiment
is thoroughly unconventional: blow or
burn away 86% of the currency.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The benefits of Demonetisation
itemised are</b>:<b>1.</b> Curbing Black
Money <b>2.</b> Controlling Corruption <b>3</b>. Creating a cashless transparent economy
<b>4.</b> Rise in Tax Receipts <b>5</b>. Reduce artificial Investments in
Real estate transactions <b>6.</b> Inflow
of more white money into banks. Rise in cash reserves (C R.around 6%) of banks enabling
them to lend 16 times more of that amount.<b>7.</b>
Reduction in rates of interest, rise in Investments and consequent growth of employment,
consumption and GDP.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The cost or defects</b>
of demonetisation of 2016 raised by the public are:<b>1.</b> The long queues before all banks to file details and surrender
illegalised money <b>2</b>. “ “To withdraw the allowed paltry amount Rs.
2000/- from one’s own SB or current Account <b>3.</b> Lack of cash to pay daily wages to workers. Even corporate
offices found difficulty in convincing workers with cheque payments.<b>4.</b> Sudden decrease in consumption
demand of the people shattered the traders and distributers of wares and
services of all kinds. Even Out- Patient-departments of most of the hospitals
remained idle or closed. <b>5.</b> Decrease
of production in agriculture and allied activities in primary sector,
industrial sector and service sector causing a sudden drop in GDP and its
growth rate. Farm income suddenly decreased. <b>6.</b> Fear and anxiety of the public of the repetition of the 1998
international crash of economies. <b>7.</b>
Decrease in employment of immigrant labour and their return to home states of
Orissa, M.P. Bengal, Etc; disrupting local economics<b>.8.</b> Cash intensive parts of the economy suffered the most. <b>9. </b>Remonetisation was so slow and highlighted
incompetence of planning the demonetisation project.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By industry, the most important and the
fastest growing sector of Indian economy are <b>1. services</b> with more than <b>60</b>
percent of GDP: Trade, hotels, transport
and communication, financing, insurance, real estate and business services and
community, social and personal services. <b>2.
Agriculture,</b> forestry and fishing constitute around <b>12 </b>percent of the output, but employs more than 50 percent of the labour
force<b>. 3. Manufacturing</b> accounts for
<b>15</b> percent of GDP, <b>4. construction,</b> another <b>8 </b>percent and <b>5. mining,</b> quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply for the
remaining <b>5</b> percent. We may examine
the detailed effects of demonetisation on these sectors and people engaged in
them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sudden stopping of
cash payment made demanders and suppliers of goods and services equally stunned
causing a decrease in their contribution to the GDP. Agriculture and crops
languished for want of agro-care. Many of the farmers failed to repay banks and
were declared bankrupt resulting in farmer suicides. In short, GDP from the
five sectors dipped.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eight months passed
since the demonetisation. Despite remedial actions the defects still persist
and refuse to vanish. Forged Money is yet imported and printed in India. Black
money is still being created despite the increased intervention of the income
tax authorities to curb tax
evasion.Total amount of black money has been estimated to be only 6% of the
currency in circulation. So such a sudden demonetisation with so great
sufferings of the society was unwarraented. Corruption is rampant, and the
unearned income is still being extracted from all major suppliers of goods and
services to the Govt. Dept.s and PSUs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The public debate on demonetisation raised three sets of
questions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>First.</b> Its management. Broader aspects of management, as reflected
in the design and implementation of the initiative. Govt. was unprepared for
the heavy demand for legal currency. Lack of enough planning in the supply of
new currency caused untold misery and suffering of the public. <b>Second</b>, its economic impact in the
short and medium run was not very positive. The colossal and massive sufferings
of the people and its negative impact
on the GDP and personal income of the people warrant quantification. It will be
gigantic. <b>Third,</b> its implications
for the broader vision underlying the future conduct of economic policy and the
expected benefits highlighted above This deserve detailed analysis of Fiscal-
Monetary Policies and Administrative strategies.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apart from forged currency or hawala money, Cash can be
understood along two dimensions: its function and its nature. In terms of
function, cash is a medium of exchange (for transactions) or as a store of
value (Milton Freidman and the Chicago School of Economists) like other forms
of wealth such as gold and real estate. In terms of nature, cash can be illicit
or not. Function and nature are quite distinct. For example, cash used as a
store of value could be white (the savings that all households keep for an
emergency), while cash used for transactions could be black (if it was earned
through tax evasion and / or corruption).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most black money is
earned through perfectly legal activities. In most cases, this income becomes
black solely because it has not been declared to the tax authorities. The
higher the amount of cash in circulation, greater the amount of corruption, is the
measurement result conducted by Transparency International. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Remedy is to reduce
cash payments and encourage financial intermediation through cheques and other innumerable
financial instruments. Transparency and automatic entry of all transactions in
the Income tax returns can curb many of these evils. A number of similar follow-up
actions including fast, demand-driven, remonetisation would minimize the costs
and maximise the benefits of demonetisation..<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
END</div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-26809592200693092972016-12-15T23:19:00.001-08:002016-12-15T23:23:19.585-08:00STRENGTHENING ETICAL AND MORAL VALUES IN GOVERANCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">STRENGTHENING ETHICAL AND MORAL
VALUES IN GOVERNANCE</span></u></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prof Joseph K Alexander Chairman , IIPA Kerala Regional Branch</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Inaugural speech At he Seminar at The NSS College for Women -</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Karamana -07-10-2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When a group of beings; animals or men happen or decide to
live together there arise the need for dos and don’ts so that the elbow of one
does not hit at the nose of another. This is a Universal truth applicable even to
the planets, stars and galaxies. Every one of them moves in their own orbit as per
rules of the Universe or God. In human society this is more necessary. Unlike animals
or shoals of fish which move under the natural ethics and morality instinct endowed
in them, man has an additional capacity – the freewill. So ethics and morality
rules may be violated by men. Imposition of moral rules is a necessity in every
human society: more so in healthier wealthy so called civilised societies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the formation of a state there is a social contract says
the theorists Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. Every individual has to sacrifice a
part of his absolute sovereignty to the state so that it emerges powerful to
protect them from internal squabbles and external attacks. So the state
maintains a police force or army. To maintain peace the state insists on certain
rules and regulations. Thus rules- dos and don’ts emerge not only in political
but also in religious groups. In Sir
Thomas Moore’s Utopia, Plato’s Ideal State, religious groups like Judaism, Buddhism,
Jainism, Mahabharata and Ramayana etc there are rules for the maintenance of a
peaceful society . God gave Ten Commandments to Moses. Githa specify the real
duty or role of man in this life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the early stages of the formation of the state every
citizen strictly follows the ethical and moral rules of the society like “puthanachi”.
Later with more peaceful, secure and leisurely life they tend to neglect them.
As in dialectics the peace generates its own antithesis of distrust. Now the
important issue discussed all over is how to enforce ethics and morality in
governance of modern states.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We had direct democracy in Athens and Sparta of Greek
History. Since our population and land area of most of the states are large
unlike them, we copied Parliamentary Democracy of Briton. In the early stages
parties had difficulty in getting candidates to represent each county / constituency.
.They were to be persuaded to stand for election. Now even in Briton suitors
are cringing before political leaders for candidature because of fringe
benefits and under the table black money income. In India we have multi-party system
and now coalitions of them to govern us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Page 2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Our Parliamentary constituencies have more than ten lakhs of
voters. To reach them within a fortnight after the declaration of the election
date, each candidate require huge amounts of money which no one can muster for
himself. True, the political party will give some which will not be enough to
meet his needs. Business corporations and magnates with vested interest seek
the candidates with funds to finance them. If he is elected he has to repay the
debt by resorting to corrupt out of the
methods. This corruption is the greatest bane in parliamentary system of
government. Despite it is far better than monarchy, dictatorship, autocracy and
all other forms of governance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Corruption is the greatest curse in civil society. Corruption
exist all over the World in different degrees Tranparency International in
their study says that of the 173
countries examined, India is now 75<sup>th</sup> in the group of less corrupted
countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">India has taken many initiatives to strengthen our
ethical and moral frame work; some of them are: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Code of Conduct for Ministers and Civil Servants, accountability
to parliament, Right to Information Act, creation of Lokpal, Lokayuktas, Vigilance
Commission, National Investigative Agency, right to public service delivery act
and so on..Despite they are all ineffective in curbing corruption. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the wake of the two World Wars and despite the creation of
UNO, World Bank and other international bodies, distrust and wars were
happening in many parts of the World. So in 1960s the Club of Rome was created and
financed by the international community to find a method to establish peace in
the Word. After a detailed study of the World situation the club created a
formula ZPG= ZEG. This club was later closed and one leader of them Herman Khan
joined as leader of another think tank in Hudson Institute in USA. Someone asked
him that World Peace is not anywhere near and the resources of the World are
being depleted so fast that the future is bleak. Then Khan replied that human
ingenuity is such that he can jump over any hurdle that emerges. Like-wise whatever
rules and regulations are passed or implemented, man’s ingenuity can jump over
to fatten his pocket with corrupted under-the table transactions..Yet creation
of as many watch dogs as possible is a necessity to generate awareness of the
need for ethics and morality in governance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-10246918888765864412016-11-08T01:47:00.000-08:002016-11-08T01:47:52.795-08:00ANECDOTE ABOUT VADUKAS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Dear Prof. Alexander,</span><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">"Another
which distinguished our family in the earlier social history was generous, kind
and just treatment extended to untouchables and labourers, who suffered
deprivations in the caste –ridden past. An interesting anecdote about vadukas
and Kanianthra Ninan Chandy Tharakan bears testimony to this</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">."</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;">Would you kindly tell me what this
testimony was?</span><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IN;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
SARA KNIGHT. ENGLAND</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This incident is briefly referred
to in my English edition of the KANIANTHRA FAMILY HISTORY PUBLISHED on Jan 1<sup>st</sup>
2000. That is an abridged international edition of the original book in
Malayalam published in 1991. My website KANIANTHRA FAMILY SITE- Home page – last
pages contain Family Traits- you can read the incident-- there in brief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The incident happened in the life
of Nina Chandy Tharakan 1735-1800 and
his son Chandy Kunju Thommy Tharakan-1765-1822 A D, my ancestors. Our ancestors
were much ahead of the times in their approach towards the down trodden
untouchables mainly because of their Christian tradition and teachings.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
The son married Pallikadavil
Annamma. The new bride hardly 10 or 11 years old –as was the custom--came into
a large family of her husband AND FATHER-IN- LAW.-Besides the family members there were another forty
vaduka family members- over a hundred of them including women and their
children-. Loitering in the house and AND were being fed at the meal times. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
ANNAMMA GOT DISGUSTED in pushing around in the welter of Vaduka women and
children AND went to her home declaring that she will
return only after these Vaduka families were settled elsewhere in their own
huts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Vaduka is the name given to
pulaya- pariah dalits working for their master and got converted to
.Christianity. They and their women work in the family paddy farms and coconut
groves and earn their food. Their children get free meals from the master.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chandy Kunju Thommy Tharakan in
two years time got these Vadukas settled in separate huts on his lands in the
village. Annamma immediately returned to her husband for their family life. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Prof. Alexander</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-74914328376889821712016-01-20T02:41:00.000-08:002016-01-20T02:41:27.549-08:00 LOCAL BODIES ELECTION AND BEYOND: POSSIBILITIES OF CONSENSES AND DEVELOPMENT.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>LOCAL BODIES
ELECTION AND BEYOND:<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>POSSIBILITIES
OF CONSENSES AND DEVELOPMENT.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><i>IIPA Seminar paper- presented on 05-12-2015 in the Anchal
College Seminar hall as inaugural
lecture</i></b><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kerala culture over its centuries of history is one of
compromise and consensus. The historical vein of its Politics since the
formation of the Kerala State has two veins: socio-political-economic one up-man
ship of religious oriented communities and conflictive politics in day-to-day
encounters of the two political coalitions LDF and UDF. The recent LSG elections
has projected a new fighter into the arena ; the BJP augmenting its strength by
the offer of support by Sri Vellappalli Natesan’s BGDS claiming adherence of
the entire Ezhava community, KPMS and other dalits. This new contender may
bring a compromise of the two former warring LDF & UDF to project a joint programme
and platform. Possibilities of Development will continue to be bleak as long as
the conflictive politics exist. In other words, Development will be speedy only
when the political parties join to put a common front against all opposing
caucuses and hindrances as in the neighbouring States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kerala, God’s own country, is famous for compromises, fusion
of cultures, races, languages, religions, beliefs and new ideas that creep into
its geographical area. The native believers
of “nature –gods” compromised with the Aryan personified gods,
Rama-Vishnu-Maheswara trio and their
Ramayana, Mahabharatha stories; just as
the Buddhists, Jains, Egyptians, Romans,
Aryans, Cretans, Greeks, Assyrians, Jews and Chinese attracted by our exotic
spices traded , mingled, married and fused
into our historical milieu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoEnvelopeAddress" style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: column; mso-element-anchor-vertical: margin; mso-element-frame-height: 0in; mso-element-frame-hspace: 0in; mso-element-frame-width: 0in; mso-element-left: left; mso-element-top: 0in; mso-element-wrap: auto; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Consensus
even in political ideology is our history.
Kerala is the home of coalition Govts. Sri C. Achutha Menon
successfully coordinated it in his Govt of
1970-1977. In
Kerala, it is difficult for a single party to contest and win even a single
seat, because the voter perception is towards voting for a front. It became a
model for the rest of the country including the Central Govt.. Kerala politics devolved
through two strains of practises of One-upmanship and Conflictive politics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">One-upman ship<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Christian community though only 16-17 % of Kerala
Population of the state (Along with the powerful Latin community (4.25%).) was
getting an upper hand in the society because of Christian Missionaries who came
with western colonialism and English education in the 18<sup>th</sup> century. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rani Lakshmi Bai appointed Col. Munro, resident representative
of the British Empire –as Dewan (1811-1814) of Travancore State. Col. Munro a non- catholic protestant Christian-
fascinated by the Syrian Christians wanted to help them. His idea was to make
them later adherents of his religion. He
supported their Pulikottil Joseph Remban who masterminded English education in
the State by starting the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Pazhaya_Seminary" title="Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Orthodox
Theological Seminary (Old Seminary</span><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080;">)</span></a> in 1815. Munro persuaded Rani to give land and money
to Remban, who became Malankara Metran
in 1815. He soon passed away) . His successors particularly Pulikottil Joseph II
Mar Divanasios (Head of the Church for 44 years, 1865-1909)started and encouraged
parishes and individuals to start schools all over the Malankara Church.<b><span style="background: white;"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This education in English medium became a springboard for
that community to Govt. employment and entrepreneurship
in plantations and SS industries, migration to Ceylon, Malaysia, Burma and even
S.Africa in search of employment . This made them (the Syrian Christians) to
regain their social superiority – lost during the Portuguese colonialism. They became
relatively prosperous and cognisable entity in Kerala politics. They had innumerable
Schools, Colleges and health centres in the pre 1956 decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The venerable leader
of the Nair community (13 % of the population) Sri. Mannathu Padmanbhan preached and persuaded the Nair community to
emulate Christians. He started Colleges and hospitals. The formation of the
Nair Service Society (NSS) gave them natural leadership in Kerala politics,.
With the leadership of Sri Narayana Guru - social and religious reformer- Ezhavas (23%) got the impetus to organise a powerful
lobby . This SNDP during the chief minister ship of Sri R. Sankar ventured into
starting Colleges and hospitals for one-upmanship in Kerala society and
politics. Muslim Community‘s (26%) followed,
by starting Muslim Educational Society (MES) and their Colleges and schools.
They are now pushing their community to be the topmost in all
spheres..Ayyankali’s Pulaya Community also
organised their KPMS and are waging for their rightful place in Kerala politics
like other smaller communities. This competitive one-upmanship uplifted social
awareness and human development index (HDI) of Kerala on the basis of literacy,
longevity and per capita income (PCI). one upmanship proved to be a boon in the
onward march of Kerala<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Kerala Political parties were Indian National Congress (State
version merged in) and its splinter group Communist Party. The competitive
one-upmanship created many divisions within these two. Now no single party can
win even one seat in the elections. Therefore, they coalesce into groups at the
time of election and form two opposing fronts UDF and LDF. Once voted to power,
parties in each front continue their in fight in each group to get seats in the
ministry. .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background: white;">Conflictive
politics.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Since 1970s <span style="background: white;">Politics in
Kerala is dominated by two coalition fronts: the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)" title="Communist Party of India (Marxist)"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Communist Party of India(Marxist)</span></a><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-led<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Democratic_Front" title="Left Democratic Front"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Left Democratic
Front</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(LDF) and the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress" title="Indian National Congress"><span style="background: white; color: #0b0080; text-decoration: none;">Indian
National Congress</span></a> led United Democratic Front (UDF),
alternatively succeeding the ruling
coalition in the general five year
periodic elections. In the 2011 elections, the constituents of these fronts
were as follows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="background: #F9F9F9; border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: solid #AAAAAA 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; padding: 2.4pt 4.8pt 2.4pt 4.8pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Democratic_Front_(Kerala)" title="Left Democratic Front (Kerala)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Left Democratic
Front</span></b></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)" title="Communist Party of India (Marxist)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Communist Party of India (Marxist)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India" title="Communist Party of India"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Communist Party of India</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Socialist_Party_(India)" title="Revolutionary Socialist Party (India)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Revolutionary
Socialist Party</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Joseph)" title="Kerala Congress (Joseph)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress (Joseph)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janata_Dal_(Secular)" title="Janata Dal (Secular)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Janata Dal (Secular)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Congress_(Socialist)" title="Indian Congress (Socialist)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Indian Congress (Socialist)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Thomas)" title="Kerala Congress (Thomas)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress (Thomas)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalist_Congress_Party" title="Nationalist Congress Party"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Nationalist Congress Party</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_League" title="Indian National League"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Indian National League</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> -
Supported LDF -Won 1 Seat<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #AAAAAA 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; padding: 2.4pt 4.8pt 2.4pt 4.8pt;"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #AAAAAA 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; padding: 2.4pt 4.8pt 2.4pt 4.8pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Democratic_Front_(India)" title="United Democratic Front (India)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">United Democratic
Front</span></b></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress" title="Indian National Congress"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Indian National Congress</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Union_Muslim_League" title="Indian Union Muslim League"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Indian Union Muslim League</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Mani)" title="Kerala Congress (Mani)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress (Mani)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Balakrishna_Pillai)" title="Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress
(Balakrishna Pillai)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Jacob)" title="Kerala Congress (Jacob)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress (Jacob)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala_Congress_(Secular)" title="Kerala Congress (Secular)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Kerala Congress (Secular)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The
number of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janathipathya_Samrakshana_Samithy" title="Janathipathya Samrakshana Samithy"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Janathipathya Samrakshana Samithy</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Marxist_Party" title="Communist Marxist Party"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Communist Marxist Party</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Socialist_Party_(Baby_John)" title="Revolutionary Socialist Party (Baby John)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Revolutionary
Socialist Party (Baby John)</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 1.2pt; margin-left: 19.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="apple-converted-space">·<span style="font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Janata_Dal_(Secular)_Veerendra_Kumar&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Janata Dal (Secular) Veerendra Kumar (page does not exist)"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Janata Dal
(Secular) Veerendra Kumar</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="height: .85pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #AAAAAA 1.0pt; height: .85pt; mso-border-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #AAAAAA .75pt; padding: 2.4pt 4.8pt 2.4pt 4.8pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Source -internet</span></div>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CPM is a cadre party. Any who violate its regulations are
forced out or liquidated. To retain the ranks and their morale they conduct
regular propaganda and virtual meetings, samarams and dharna against real or
fake issues. They do it even for outmoded mores of living in the pretext of
protecting the livelihood conditions of the working class. Bar license
corruption, Sarita- Biju Ramesh Solar case, management- labour issues and
corruption of the UDF/ LDF parties are only a few sample issues. . For
increasing readership, media of all hues fan the flame and keep the society on
toes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> On the other hand, UDF
is a loose federation. Aaya Rams and gaya rams even on very silly issues is
their nature. Their propaganda machinery is weak and in- fights of the
components are frequent. This make it a weak front. Muslim league and one or two Kerala congress
groups alone are steady in their support of the front. Small splinter groups in
Kerala Congress is still undecided as to whether they are left or right<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Corruption in the
form of collection for election campaigning is there in both fronts. Candidates
have to meet their voters over ten to fifteen lakhs with in 14 to 18 days
before the election. Therefore, they resort to all modern expensive methods of
campaigning. In LDF, the collection is more centralised than in the UDF where
each individual collect funds for his own election dues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Both fronts appeal to the main vote banks -the lower middle
class and the poor. More over each front want to outdo the opposition in
offering social development and amelioration programmes so that the political manifesto
of both fronts looks alike. Situational exigencies force them to do so. Therefore, Kerala is projected as a state with
left oriented politics—whether true or not? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Each front when sitting as the opposition decries the
programmes being implemented by the ruling front as useless or being wrongly
done or its terms and conditions are detrimental to the society. Their aim is to
prevent the ruling front doing it and want them to be postponed so that the
credit and peripherals can be reaped when they come into power in the ensuing election.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of this conflictive politics, each front when in
power try to outdo the previous Government in their promises.. This
overdoing has led Kerala to the brink of
economic disaster as faced by Mrs. Thatcher (1970-1990) of Conservative party of England in the 1980s It is the in-pouring of remittances of our
expatriates from outside and Gulf countries (Rs. 72,680 cr in 2013-14)
that keep the bubble of well being in shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A third party that emerged in the recent (2015) LSG election
in Kerala is the BJP. It had been there in a very low profile. Now it is in
power at the centre in Delhi and hence was able to wrench a sizable portion of
the vote bank. BJP with militant RSS support is also a cadre party. It is projected
as a Hinditua Party with communal oriented programmes. Kerala has a tradition of secular politics and
is famous for its communal harmony exemplified by the Hindu Temple, Muslim
Mosque and Palayam Christian Church as a tripod in the heart of Trivandrum
city. Such sites one can see in many other parts of Kerala. The religious
harmony and toleration shown by each in the religious festivals is exemplary and
emulatable.The Hindu rulers of the past gave land and money to other
communities to put up their worship centres. The emergence of BJP into this
harmony and tolerance may create disharmony .Moreover the CPM and militant BJP
cadre parties may aggravate the conflictive politics into street clashes and
disruption of the famous communal harmony of Kerala..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">BJP with Vellappalli Natesan’s new BGDS of the Ezhava Community
has created askance in others. With the emergence of this new opposition in the
election arena, LDF & UDF having programmes that are more common may suppress
their differences to oppose the new enemy. Thus, there can be a consensus to
that extant in Kerala Politics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet there is another possibility of a new kind of communal clashes
spear headed by Hindus of BJP and non-Hindus of LDF led other communal groups. Still
another possibility is that CPM may adopt a new policy of appeasing the Hindu
religious oriented communist followers. Religion was taught by communists as
opium of the masses to be abhorred. The CPM may now fear that BGDS support of
the BJP may attract its Hindu ranks to BJP-BGDS coalition. Therefore, CPM may do
a political somersault to appease Hindu ranks by permitting them to actively
involve in the religious ceremonies of Hindu temples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Development.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Economic Development is not mere Economic Growth in GDP or
PCI .Changes in the mores and modes of production; change in the life style of
the community must accompany. A typist must transform into a DTP expert, or a net
casting angler must become a fish boat hauler of the sea belly or the hoe tiller
must turn up as driver of a tractor or combine harvester. Such changes will not
only increase phenomenally his income but also change the life style. That is Economic
Development <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Therefore, Economic Development
involves change from the old worldly traditional cumbersome and less productive
to modern mechanised highly productive processes leading to much higher income.
It is true that the typist has to undergo a short course in DTP or the angler
learns boat driving and hauling the net in the sea etc. This type of change is
the essence of Economic Development. Those who oppose this change on whatever pretext
or ideology are against Eco. Development.. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When a farmer first introduced tractor tilling in
Chathankery Puncha (upper Kuttanad, Kerala) in the 1950s , there was a clash
between the supporters and opposers of change. One was beaten up and
killed. When computer was introduced in the Govt Secretariat Trivandrum, there was strikes and samaram by one party. They were
trying to obstruct Economic Development. They were like the Ludite revolutionaries
(1811-1816), of England in the beginning of Industrial revolution. (( Ned Lud opposed
technological changes. His group went
around and destroyed newly introduced mechanical looms)) Those who oppose
technological changes and changes in traditional life styles pull back onward march of humanity
to improved and better life patterns. History prove that it is the
technological revolution like invention of steam power, of electricity, of information
technology, of nano mechanics that made economic
growth and modern civilisation possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Now the Vizhingam harbour constructions are being launched. Leaders
of the coastal people oppose it on the ground that they will lose their
employment and life style. If that
community and we want to reap the benefits of that mega project we have to
change from our former life style to new like sewerages, transport of goods,
handling the containers and earn a much higher income. Changes in
technology create temporary unemployment for a few and create millions on new types of employment.
Society benefit by many fold increase in
jobs and income .Opponents to changes will enter into history as the
Ludite revolutionaries of 21<sup>st</sup> century. It is this attitude and the
conflictive politics that made Kerala to be 25 years behind the advanced States
in India.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not ideological differences between the LDF & UDF
that stall the economic development. The one-upmanship competition prompts them
to oppose any project or programme of the ruling front and give imaginative
idealistic unworkable projects and programme promises. They include them in the
ensuing election manifesto and electioneering propaganda. Thus, ongoing
projects are stalled. Once the same opposition win the election and are in power,
they try to undertake the same projects they opposed; they implement and reap
the benefits. The conflictive politics of Kerala has a twofold aim:1. Defeat the ruling party,2. Reap, and collect the benefits and advantages
to themselves. No political coalition is exempt from this strategy. The mega
projects get delayed for decades and are executed over a long period at
phenomenally exorbitant cost over the years. In most other Indian states
electioneering contests of political parties end with election. When
development of the state is on stake, they join to make the project completed
successfully and within time. No wonder that Chennai, Maharashtra, Gujarat Punjab
etc .are far ahead of Kerala in implementation of infrastructure
projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion it can be said that despite the very high HDI
, literacy, knowledge ability, communal harmony and extremely suitable
environment and educated labour availability, quick economic development of
Kerala is doubtful. The conflictive politics has the other side. It may bring
some sort of consensus between the warring LDF & UDF to fight the communal
agenda of the BJP and .Natesan’s BGDS.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-18395356063287265902015-11-13T04:00:00.004-08:002015-11-13T04:00:57.045-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
1<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>Kerala and Poverty</b></h2>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<b>Prof. Joseph K Alexander</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Recently I read an article about poverty in Kerala. It argues that it is a majour concern</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
and warrant social and economic changes to eliminate it. Eliminating poverty is a mirage</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It exist even in the richest society. It is a relative concept. Moreover there is another view</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
about poverty in Kerala. A couple of decades ago I was introduced to Air vice Marshall</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
K. A. Joseph in his coupe in the train journey from Ernakulam to Trivandrum. A fortyone</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
day old strike in Aluva FACT was on. We in our discussions came to this topic. The</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Marshall who had seen India in his wide travels said that such a long strike will not</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
happen in any other part of India. Kerala is God’s own country. Every inch of it is fertile</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
and produce edible fruits, roots, leaves and meat. Hence even if none of these exist in</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
your homestead, they are there in the neighbor’s plot of land. Except destitutes, no one</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
knows the real pinch of hunger in Kerala. Staying power enables the Kerala strikers to</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
continue it endlessly.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Poverty is a state of the mind. It is an experience of not having; not getting what you</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
want; what you have a right to get. .Basic needs of life like food, shelter and clothing are</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
examples. The assumptions are potable water and pollution free air is freely available.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reality is that they too are now costly. Water cost Rs. 10 a bottle and to get fresh air</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
you have to incur the cost to go to Sea shores or Silent valley like forests.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those who do not get enough income to purchase even the basic needs to keep soul and</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
body together should be said to suffer abject poverty. All others, except monks and</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
abstinence practitioners, encounter only relative poverty. Economic wants are</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
necessaries, comforts and luxuries. With increase in income of the consumer, comforts</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
escalate into necessaries and luxuries into comforts. In Kerala electric fans have become</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
necessary and motor cars and mobile phones have slided into comforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Physical needs like minimum food, clothing, shelter and sex are easily satisfied. The rest</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
are psychological needs. Full satisfaction of them is impossible. A feeling of not getting</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
wants is relative poverty. This can be due to the relatively very low income of the</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
individual or awareness that he has a right to get them and not getting them or again an</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
understanding that others relatively have and enjoy them.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pinch of such poverty depends on the percentile income band of a social group vis-avis</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
of the individual’s income. A person getting a higher income than that of those in a</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
group can maintain a higher level of consumption pattern and feel himself to be very rich.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If the same person moves his residence to a higher income group locality, his</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
consumption basket is relatively less than that of others in the group. He realizes that he</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
is poorer. He suffers relative poverty. Such poverty exist at all times and in all societies</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
and countries; rich and poor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One who practices abstinence in his wants for short or long periods, as monks do, they do</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
not experience poverty. During lent periods or Ramadan month those who practice them</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
do not consider them to be suffering from poverty.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
2</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the light of these facts “below poverty line” (BPL) concept looses its significance.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
BPL and APL (“above poverty line”) are conceptual attempts to measure the number of</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
poor who require anti-poverty help. It is calculated by the minimum income necessary to</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
consume 2500 calorie of food per day. This income varies with the price level. Those</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
who have that income are APL and others come in the BPL category. When India became</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
independent more than 50 % of the population was in the BPL group. The Planning</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Commission of India claims that because of economic planning and the resultant</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
economic growth income has increased. Now only 28 % or around alone are in the BPL</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
group. But many argue that BPL calculation criteria must be changed. With growing</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
income, literacy and awareness, the criteria must be enlarged to include good food,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
decent shelter, clothing, health care and education facilities, freedom of expression etc;</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If this is adopted, more than 60 % of the population will come under the BPL category.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This calculation of BPL in the light of the provision of food security for all in India is a</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
current topic. Central Government is for Targeted Public Distribution of food materials</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
only to the BPL families, because of the heavy subsidies involved. States like Kerala</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
insist on ration card supply of subsidized food to all in the State. Kerala has this system</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
for decades. The problem is that the State has to bear the extra cost of the subsidy or limit</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
rationing to BPL families. .If universal rationing is not possible, at least make the BPL</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
criteria broader to include more families in. This will enable the State to get more</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
subsided ration food from the Central Government and thus reduce the subsidy burden of</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
the State Government.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Poverty is caused by low or no income. It can be further clasisified into Destitutional,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Conjectural and Mass poverty. Poverty of the destitutes is due to lack of love and care or</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
no income. Their rehabilitation is more effective in thbe hands of the voluntary NGOs</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
than the bureaucratic machinery of the State. Conjectural poverty arise due to inadvertent</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
maladies like earth quakes, flood war destruction and the like misshapenness. In this case</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
massive transfer of resources from those who have income to the victims can be arranged</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
by the State and NGOs. . Here again servicing the aid will be better done and without</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
corruption by voluntary and philanthropic NGOs. Mass poverty is often due low</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
economic development of the country / society. In this case heavy investment by the</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Government on infrastructure, agriculture, industrial production and rural and urban</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
employment schemes alone can provide more income and economic development to the</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
unemployed mass.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
END</div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-76804549810185542782015-09-17T04:56:00.002-07:002015-09-17T04:56:08.582-07:00NIRANAM GRANDHA VARI AND KANIANTHRA KUDUMBAM<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>NIRANAM
GRANDHA VARI AND KANIANTHRA KUDUMBAM<o:p></o:p></b></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NIRANAM GRANDHA VARI is
the First History book of the Mlankara Orthodox Church written in Malayalam. It
is a diary or chronicle of the events in the life of Malankara Metropolitan
Marthoma VI (1745-1808) and short sketches about early Christian history from
Adam & Eve to the Antiochan attempts to supremacy in Malankara church and
short references up to 1847. It is
presumed to be written by a Deacon/ secretary of the Metropolitan. Some
researchers think that it may have been Rev.Dn. Kanianthra Thommy Chandy
ordained by him. He was the main nurse in the last days of the Metropolitan and
was ordained a priest in 1808 by Marthoma VII. Rev Fr. Thommy Chandy stayed on
in the Niranam church for some years as the vicar and managed the entire Church
during the succession periods of Marthoma Metrans VII, VIII and IXth. His successor in the family was Rev. Nina
Chandy Corepiscopa who also was a celibate and stayed in the churh till 1910
when he was called to Mepral as vicar of St. John’s parish church. All his
belongings might have included this palm leaf history. Anyway we found it in
the 1930s in our Grandhapura (library) of our old house. Late Kanianthra Mr. K
J. Ninan took it to Theological Seminary, Chitramezhuth Varghese, Edamaraku, K
M Mammen Mapila of Manorama and others. Summaries of it were made by some of
them<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Thaliola Grandham came to my hand from K. J.
Ninan’s son. I got it transcripted in readable Malayalam on paper by experts from the Kerala Uty Manuscript
library. I entrusted it to Malankara Sabha editor Fr. T. G Scaria for
publication by the Malankara Church. Sri Paul Manalil got it from Scaria Achen
and published two books one in Malayalam & another in English. But the real
annotated research book on Niranam Grandhavari is the one produced with my permission
by Dr. M. Kurien Thomas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Niranam Grandhavari
contains references about Kanianthra
Chandy Nina Tharakan (died .1774), Nina Chandy Tharakan ( 1735-1800),
his son Kunju Thommi Tharakan (1765-1822) who played important role in the
Coonan Kurisu Sathyam, preserving independence of the Church against Antiocahan
incursions etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is the realation
between Kanianthras and Niranam Grandha Vari. We still continue on the
footsteps of our predecessors in being with The Catholicos and Malankara
Metropolitan. END<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-26084394694073523162015-09-17T04:45:00.003-07:002015-09-17T04:45:28.827-07:00FAREWELL SPEECH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">FAREWELL SPEECH- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(27 July 2014, Kottayam)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Joseph K Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I came into the MGOCSM as
a school student, through the advice of my father and teachers of the
Thiruvalla MGM High School, Mr. C O Oommen and Mr. C M John. Both were General
Secretaries of MGOCSM. After attending the 1942 Annual Conference at Thiruvalla
Balikamadom GHS and the 1944 Conference as a religious retreat-ant at the M D
Seminary Elias Chapel my further education and employment lead me out of
Travancore. The return in 1966 to the University College Trivandrum as HOD of
Economics and principal of Government College, Kottayam in 1972, prompted H G
Philipos Mar Theophilos, President, to reinvent and induct me back into the
MGOCSM. Since then, I am in the Movement in one or another official capacity
and a resource person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Knowing the Movement and
the nature of its work from the days Rev. Dn. K. Philipos (later H G Philipos
Mar Theophilos) was its General Secretary in 1942. and through the period of
its Presidents; H.G. Philipose Mar Theophilos, H G Philipos Mar Eusebius, and H
G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, present President who joined the Movement as a young
Deacon and General Secretaries; Mr. Philipos Thomas, Rev Fathers P C Cherian,
George Kurien, John Thomas, Dr M C Cherian, .Dr. V.M Abraham and now Rev Fr. Dr.Varghese
Varghese<span style="color: red;">.</span> I felt it my duty right and honour<span style="color: red;"> </span>as a senior member, to be an active volunteer in the
Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">As Senior Vice
President of the MGOCSM for 11 years (1978-“89), its director of the Trivandrum
Complex and hostel 19 years (1983-2002), Chairman of the constructions at
Trivandrum center second phase 1983-1985 and member of the CHAIROS Committee 2004- 2012, I
did what I could for the Movement. The prestigious Education Orientation Course
of the MGOCSM, 1981, its journal 2004-2006, and Website 2004-2007 were started
by me with support of its President Thirumenis. Currently I am the Treasurer of
MGOCSM from 2002.</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I,
Retd. Director, Collegiate Education, Kerala Govt. Service is an economist. Was
President of the Kerala Dhana Sasthra Academy 1970-1972, Head of the Department
of Economics of the Victoria College, Palghat 1962-1966, HOD of the University
College Trivandrum 1966-1972, Founder-principal of Govt. College, Kottayam, 1972-1980,
member of the Kerala University Senate 1961-1964 and Academic Bodies1965-1983;
Hon-Director of the prestigious Christian Study Center of Kerala University1994-1996
and research fellow of University Grants Commission1983-1987. I have published
ten books and 20 research papers. Was emeritus professor of economics in the
Marthoma St. Thomas College, Kozenchery1985-1987; was examiner and expert member
in the PSC of Kerala and Karnataka States, Southern Railway Board, New India Assurance
Company, and Staff selection of PSC and Private Colleges in Kerala. After
retirement; was a Faculty Member of the Civil Service Academy, Trivandrum for
over a decade, was a member of the MOC official bodies including the Church
Planning Committee, member of the Corporate Colleges and later of the Schools
Governing Bodies of the Church and three
times Chief Election Officer of the Malankara Association of MOC, I am now active
as chairman of Kerala Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public
Administration from 2004 and member of its Executive council at Delhi. Being a
founder member of the Mar Gregorios Rehabilitation Center Munnammoodu
Trivandrum in 1981, is its Vice President for the last couple of decades. I
have been a resource person for most of the projects started by the then new
Bishop H G Geevarghese Mar Dioscorus of the new Trivandrum Diocese of the MOC in
the last quarter of last Century from 1980. His Graces” English Medium School,
Disabled children’s home at Alathra,
Marion Play Home originally at kanaka Nagar, Bishop’s house and Chapel at Ullur, sfferts to start a Junior
College at Alathra hills which later blossomed into the Pharmacy college are
all examples.</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A galaxy of
eminent leaders nurtured the MGOCSM in its hundred years from 1908. Despite, it
has an irregular history. In some of the years it blossomed like a fresh flower
in youth, well watered, weeded and nourished by the mentors; and in others, it
looked as if, about to wither for want of their involvement. In the days of H G
Philipos Mar Theophilos the Movement developed many wings and branches and Rev
Fr P C Cherian took it to outside Kerala to cities of India. He made it a National
Movement. In the days of H G Philipos Mar Eusebius the Movement became
international especially through the efforts of the President, General
Secretary Rev. Fr. M C Cherian and the Education Orientation Fraternity who
started units of MGOCSM in churches in every part of the World where they
worked. The present President H G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos is spreading the
Movement to more Indian areas outside Kerala to take its message to all the
diaspora by organizing its Annual conferences in different parts of India <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">.During my
heavy duty as founder principal of the Kottayam Govt. College, I contributed
all my spare moments for the growth of the Movement. I thank all the
Presidents, General Secretaries, Executive Committee members and the General
Assemblies of the Movement, its Officers and managers of its various wings for
the hearty co-operation they rendered to my role in the MGOCSM and giving me
all help in writing its history of 100 years. I will be ninety on 25th November
2014. Recently I had difficulty in travelling from TVM to Kottayam to attend
the meetings of the Movement or take active role in its work more because of
the illness of my wife. She and my children were a great support for enabling
me to work in all social services I ventured. Besides you all, I thank them
also for their cooperation in making my work easy. May I now appeal to all of
you to work hard and contribute your might to make MGOCSM an effective arm of
MOC all over the World? I Pray to God to shower blessings on all of you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My mentors:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">K A Mathew , Principal
& Head Master , St. John’s shool. Mepral <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">C. M John <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">C O Oommen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> Vennikulam Gopala
Kurup<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unnonny Tharakan <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">K A Mathew , Teachers of M G M High School Thiruvalla, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rev. Dn. And later H G Philipos Mar Theophilos <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rev. Fr. M C Cherian
& later H G Sachaias Mar Theophilos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rev Fr. John Thomas
Secretary MGOCSM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">H G Baselios Marthoma Mathews
Catholicos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">11.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">H G Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews Catholicos <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">12.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Re. Dn George Kurien & later Secretary and then H G
Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, President of MGOCSM <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">13.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rev Ft. P M Eapen Vicar Se. George’s Church Trivandrum<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">14.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Rev. Fr. Alexander Vaidyan
Do<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 13.5pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> And many like these gurus who
implanted in me their behavior patterns which made me what I am. Some of them
were far younger than me but with
emulatable characters. I thank all of them nd place them before God for
heavenly rewards.<em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Prof. Joseph K Alexander; DOB-25-11-1924;</span></b></em><em><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">TC 14/2144,
Kanianthra, PRA. B.20- Medes Lane. Palayam TVM-695034.</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Spouse : Annamma Joseph; House Wife;
DOB-29-01-1927</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Phone 0471-2321955; Mobile--9447811811</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> ID </span></em><span lang="EN-US"><a href="mailto:josekan@asianetindia.com"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">josekan@asianetindia.com</span></a></span><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Children 1. Alex Jose F C A; Retired from Bahrain</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">2
Stephen Jose Bsc Agr.; MEP-IIM-Ahmedabad; Retd</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: justify;">
<em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">3.
Alexy Jose F C A (daughter); Director General Finance, Keltron TVM.</span></em><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-54412331696734004652015-09-17T04:32:00.002-07:002015-09-17T04:32:42.979-07:00MEPRAL OF KANIANTHRAS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">MEPRAL</span></u></b><b><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kanianthra family has
been living for over five centuries from 1450 AD in<b><u> </u></b>Mepral. Many families claim descent from the four converted
by St. Thomas around 50 AD. Without concrete proof, we cannot make such claims;
though there is a tradition that we of the Kanikulath Illam of Kodungallur,
probably scions of one of the four families, migrated to Niranam. Our tradition
we rely is conversion of a Brahmin illam at Idinjillam earlier or around-
latest 10<sup>th</sup> century- and we migrated to Niranam due to ostracism by
fellow Brahmins; and still later to Mepral in 1450. <b><u><o:p></o:p></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Their income were paddy
and coconut of Mepral properties. In course of time, agricultural income became
inadequate to support the growing family needs- traditional & modern. We
gave up agriculture due to political based trade union activities, changes in
land owner-labour relations and wage increases. Kanianthra members with English
education went out in 1940-50’s into the wide world. Most of them did well in
different parts of the world. There are hardly six or7 families now left at
Mepral.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kanianthra
family has certain emulate able traits running through generations</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Mothers who rear up kids please inculcate these ideals into them <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
We were, God-fearing and played prominent part in the affairs of our Church
(MOSC) against foreign dominations. It is evident in Niranam Grandhavary- a
view, Kanianthra Achen, (Thommy Chandy Kathanar) originator of the Pallath
Branch was its author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">2</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Another which distinguished our family in the earlier social history was generous,
kind and just treatment extended to untouchables and labourers, who suffered
deprivations in the caste –ridden past. An interesting anecdote about vadukas
and Kanianthra Ninan Chandy Tharakan bears testimony to this<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">3.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
The respect, honour, and obedience given to parents is another trait of us. More
important side of this coin is the sacrifices rendered by our parents in giving
English (modern) education to children<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">4</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">.
Another is the respect given to women. Our parents are partial even to a fault
to their daughters. Equality girls enjoy at home with boys develops their
potential. No wonder they become valuable and respected assets at home and in
families they go as brides. Pullucat valiappachan’s dictum “Anapurathu
irikunnavale patty kadikathilla” Anecdote about Pattaseril Chellamma Kochamma
is relevant.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-68019215890177859662014-11-16T23:02:00.002-08:002014-11-16T23:02:36.841-08:00MGOCSM-NEWS AND VIEWS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">- 1 -</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">MGOCSM</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">News and Views</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Published by MGOCSM of India</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">FOUNDED IN 1908</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement of India</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Orthodox Christian Student Centre,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">P.B.No.610. Kottayam.686001</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Phone: 0481-2567338; 2567215</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">(For Private Circulation )</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Vol. 2 July - September 2004 Book 6</span></div>
Message<br />
HAVE ASRAM MOVEMENT DEGENERATED INTO COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTRES?<br />
“In recent times many of them have taken up different service projects like schools,<br />
hospitals, orphanages etc. as tangible expression of their concern in witness. This brings forward<br />
a danger to the Ashram life at least in some cases, where the Ashram is swallowed up by the<br />
number of institutions, in due course.....<br />
The fact remains that the Gospel is presented and Christ and His teachings are made<br />
meaningful to many through these centres... The evangelistic work of making Christ known<br />
to fellowmen is going on everyday through the Ashram. It is perhaps not in the numerical<br />
number of converts gained every day or month that this evangelistic work is to be measured<br />
but in the way Christ and His teachings are made relevant and acceptable in one’s own life<br />
situation, or in the way Christ becomes meaningful in one’s own life style” H.G. PHILIPOS<br />
MAR EUSEBIUS, PRESIDENT, MGOCSM<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Courtesy:- Page 244. PRATHIBADHATHAYUDE PRAVACHAKAN.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
ED:- FR. T. A. EDAYADI</div>
“The Christian is not one who has gone all the way with Christ. None of us has. The<br />
Christian is one who has found the right road.” Charles Allen<br />
- 2 -<br />
EDITOR’S SPACE<br />
Holiness<br />
God alone is Holy. Then why we address our Catholicos as “His Holiness”?. Holiness is<br />
the quality or the state of being holy. It is divinity; blessedness; sanctification. It is used as a title<br />
for high religious dignitaries; Catholicos, Pope are examples.<br />
So one explanation is that Catholicos is the head of the Church. Church is the body of<br />
Christ. So the position Catholicos holds is Holy. So he is addressed as His Holiness.<br />
If I remember correctly, this doubt was raised in the 86th Annual conference of the<br />
MGOCSM (at Trivandrum in 1994) to H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios who was chairing a<br />
session. As far as I can remember and in my words, Thirumeni’s reply was as follows: God alone<br />
is Holy. Though we are only mundane creatures of God, we can become holy. We have been<br />
created by God in His image. He has also shown us the way to acquire His nature. The mantle<br />
of Holiness falls on us the moment we become part of God by participating in His flesh and<br />
blood. In other words when we repent and get absolved of all our sins and take part in the<br />
Koinonia of Christ’s blood and flesh, we become part of God and thus become Holy. Thus all of<br />
us can become holy, at least at that moment of participating in the Eucharist. Jesus clearly gave<br />
the mandate when at the Last Supper he offered his high-priestly intercession, praying that the<br />
disciples and all those who believe in him “may all be one. Father! May they be in us just as you<br />
are in me and I am in you” (John 17:21). So repentance is the road to holiness.<br />
Saints were constantly in touch with God and were ever ready to repent. Hence God was<br />
constantly absolving them from their sins. Thus Saints have been Holy. So all who are ready to<br />
be in constant touch with God and participate in Eucharist can be part of God and Holy.<br />
Parumala Thirumeni, Vattaseril Thirumeni, Baselius Geevarghese IInd of Kurichy were<br />
all thus in continuous contact with God and hence we call them saints. Our Bawa’s greatest<br />
blessing is his continuous prayer. So he is Holy not only because he is the head of the Church,<br />
but also because he is in constant contact with God.<br />
Prof.Joseph K.Alexander<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Executive Editor & Treasurer of MGOCSM</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rev.Dr. M.C. Zacharia Remban writes.......</span></b></div>
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,<br />
MGOCSM is planning to conduct its 96th Annual Conference at<br />
St. Mary’s College, Sultan Battery, from 27th -31st Dec. 2004. We need<br />
your prayer for the blessing of the conference. Three financially backward<br />
Dioceses in our Church are Malabar, Idukki and Sultan Battery. In 1999<br />
the conference was at Malabar Diocese and 2003 in Idukki Diocese.<br />
One of our aim is to start new MGOCSM units in the Sultan Battery<br />
Diocese and spend some days with them. Please pray for the Diocese<br />
and the people there.<br />
We hope to complete the new student centre at Iritty which is in Sultan Battery Diocese.<br />
With love and prayers.<br />
Rev. Dr. M.C. Zacharia Ramban<br />
Gen. Secretary and Chief Editor<br />
- 3 -<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Note:- Seventh Memory of the late H.G. Philipos Mar Theophilus, long time president and</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>architect of the presentday MGOCSM is on 28th September 2004. Let us pray for him and for</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>his intercession in our prayers to God. Executive Editor</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What are fasting and prayer?</span></b></div>
Fasting is the subjugation of the body, prayer is converse with God, vigil is a war against<br />
Satan, abstinence is being weaned from meats, humility is the state of the first man, kneeling is<br />
the inclining of the body before the Judge, tears are the remembrance of sins, nakedness is our<br />
captivity which is caused by the transgression of the command, and service is constant<br />
supplication to and praise of God.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
“The Paradise of the Holy Fathers”. Quoted by Mark Sadek</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime, and too sleepy to worry</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at night”. Leo Aikman</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MGOCSM CENTRE NEWS</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>General Assembly</b></div>
MGOCSM General Assembly was held on 21st Saturday 2004 at the Mar Theophilus<br />
Study Centre of the MGOCSM Complex at Kottayam.<br />
It was preceded by the Leaders Conference held on 20th which was addressed by H.G.<br />
Paulos Mar Milithios and the devotional talk was by Rev. Fr. K.M.Koshy Vaidyan. On 21st<br />
morning the audience was addressed by Rev. Fr. Yohannan Sankarathil and Rev.Fr. Philen P.<br />
Mathew.<br />
The General Assembly presided by the President H.G. Philipos Mar Eusebius, commenced<br />
at 2 P.M. After the Presidential address the Annual report for 2003-’04 was presented by the<br />
Gen. Secretary Ver. Rev. Dr. Zacharia Remban.<br />
The Accounts was presented by the treasurer Prof. Joseph K. Alexander. Both were passed.<br />
Thereupon the Gen. Secretary presented the Plan of Activities for 2004-’05 which was discussed<br />
and approved. This was followed by the election to the Executive committee. The following<br />
members were elected / nominated to the Executive Committee for the year 2004-’05.<br />
1. Senior Vice President - Prof. E. Jacob John, Tvm<br />
2. Student Vice Presidents - a. Vivek Geevarghese Alex, K.G. College, Pampady<br />
b. Sherin M. Thomas, St. George, Puthuppally<br />
3. General Secretary - Rev. Dr. Zachariah Remban<br />
Acting Gen. Secretary - Rev. Dn. Issac B. Prakash<br />
4. Associate Secretaries - a. Kurian Kunju, Baselius College<br />
b. Priya Jacob, M.G.H.S.S., Thumpamon<br />
- 4 -<br />
5. Student Jt. Secretaries - a. Abraham Mathew, S.B. College, Changanachery<br />
b. Teema Mary Cheriyan, Catholicate HSS Pathanamthitta<br />
6. Treasurer - Prof. Joseph K. Alexander<br />
Asst. Treasurer - Prof. Issac P. Abraham<br />
7. Executive Committee<br />
Seniors : - a. K.V. Varghese, b. Adv. Alex George<br />
c. Oommen Kochummen, d. Mrs. Sallymol D. Thomas<br />
Students : - a. Jitheesh, Sultan Battery<br />
b. Santhosh Thankachen, St. Gregorios, Kottarakkara<br />
c. Jobins Peter T., Kunnamkulam,<br />
d. Teena Susan Mathew, Niranam<br />
e. Feba Anna John, Vazhoor<br />
8. UTOCA Secretary - Prof. George Varghese Koppara, Catholicate College<br />
9. HSSTOCA Secretary - Dr. Mathew P. George, Catholicate HSS<br />
10. STOCA Secretary - Varghese Pothen, HSS, Mattom<br />
11. Medical Auxiliary (V.P.) - Dr. Varghese Punnoose, Medical College, Alapuzha<br />
12. Technical Auxiliary (V.P.)- Eng. Chikku Abraham, Pathanamthitta<br />
13. Missionary Forum (V.P.) - Prof. Rajan Idukkula, St. George College, Kottarakara<br />
14. Literary Forum (V.P.) - Binu K. Sam, St. Mary’s H.S. Pathanamthitta<br />
15. Secretary of the Forum - Yardley, Metropolitan HSS, Puthenkavu<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Assembly appointed Very Rev. M.C. Zacharia Remban, the present General secretary</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>as the Executive Director of the Centenary Programme of the MGOCSM.</b></div>
Rev. Dn. Issac B. Prakash has been appointed as the Acting General Secretary of the<br />
Movement during the absence of the Gen. Sec. This, he will hold in addition to his present post<br />
of Organising Secretary.<br />
Permission has been granted to the Organizing Secretaries Rev. Dn. Isaac B. Parkash and<br />
Mr. Koshy Mathew to conduct a tour in the Gulf Countries to propagate the Centenary<br />
Programme. They are Scheduled to be back by the end of September.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations Newly Ordained Deacons</span></b></div>
LAIJU MATHEW THAMPY VARGHESE<br />
Ms. DIANA ANN ISSAC<br />
3rd Rank B.Com., M.G. University<br />
D/o. Prof. Issac P. Abraham<br />
- 5 -<br />
<b>NEW STUDENT CHAPLAINS FOR MGOCSM</b><br />
Two student chaplains for MGOCSM : Fr. Paul T. Varughese for Bangalore and Fr.<br />
Thomas Philip for Mangalore regions have been appointed. MGOCSM sponsored them for<br />
their theological studies in our seminary and they successfully finished their courses and<br />
joined the movement for service. Those who are studying in Bangalore, Devengere, Kolar,<br />
Ananthapur etc. please contact Fr. Paul T. Varughese or Mr. T.V. Varughese in Bangalore.<br />
Fr. Thomas Philip, staying in Mangalore is planning to contact students in different colleges<br />
in Mangalore, Manipal, Sulliya, Nitte, Shimoga, etc. There will be regular services on every<br />
third and fourth Sunday in Manipal UCC Chapel. If your children, friends or relatives are<br />
studying in these areas, Ver. Rev. Dr. M.C. Zachariah Remban requests you to please contact<br />
MGOCSM or these regional chaplains.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ANNUAL CONFERENCE</b></div>
Venue: Mar Theophilus Study centre. Dates 22,23,24 August 2004, Theme: “God<br />
has called you - to Holiness”.<br />
Over 180 students from different parts of Kerala participated. H.G. Paulos Mar<br />
Pachomios Vice President of MGOCSM inaugurated the Conference. Revd. Fathers Philen<br />
P. Mathew, Mohan Joseph, Josy Jacob, Paul T. Verghese, Thomas Zacharia, Dr. Mathew<br />
Baby and Mr. Cherian Verghese were the main resource persons. H.G. Philipos Mar Eusebius<br />
President of MGOCSM conducted the Holy Qurbana on the final day and presided over<br />
the closing session. Delegates went with a determination to attend all future MGOCSM<br />
conferences.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>VISION 2004</b></div>
This is an Indian Orthodox Mercy Fellowship (IOMF) project of Kuwait Parishes<br />
established in association with, MGOCSM in Kerala. MGOCSM is arranging 20 Eye Camps,<br />
one in each Diocese. IOMF is helping poor patients in getting Eye care, medicines and Eye<br />
operations for those who need it. The cost of the camps, medicines and operations are all<br />
met by IOMF of Kuwait. Eye Camps were held in this quarter at Kunnakurudy, Koottical,<br />
Konni and Alampara St. Gregorios School. The Alampara Camp on 23rd July 2004 was<br />
under the auspices of The Mercy fellowship, Trivandrum.<br />
EYE CAMP AT KUNNAKURUDY 24TH JULY 04 EYE CAMP AT KOOTTICKAL, MUNDAKAYAM ON 2ND AUGUST 04 <br />
- 6 -<br />
EYE CAMP AT ATHIRUNKAL, KONNI <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Rev. Fr. Dr. M.C. cherian has been ordained to the order of Remban</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Congratulations..</span></b>...</div>
REV. DR. M.C. ZACHARIAS REMBAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER<br />
ORDINATION AT DEVALOKAM WITH MGOCSM MEMBERS<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MGOCSM PROJECT VISION 2004</b></div>
Vacation in India for spiritual<br />
insight on Orthodox Nurture. This is a<br />
project of MGOCSM exclusively for<br />
outside Kerala Students. 15 students<br />
from Gulf Area Parishes of our Church<br />
came on 17th July. In 4 days they toured<br />
heritage places of our Church. Rev. Dn.<br />
Isac B.Prakash and Mr. Koshy Mathew,<br />
Organising Secreatries of the Movement and Sisters of Chegamanad Convent conducted<br />
them through all the scheduled heritage centres.<br />
His Holiness Marthoma Mathews II inaugurates the Total Education<br />
Programme in the presence of H.G. Philipos Mar Eusebius, and other<br />
dignitaries<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>TOTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME</b></div>
MGOCSM has started another of its<br />
Centenary projects.This Total Education<br />
Programme is symbolic of what our church<br />
must do immediately. 2012 is the Centenary<br />
year of the reactivation of the Catholicate in<br />
Malankara. By that year, there shall not even<br />
be a single student in our church who do not<br />
have the proper ambience and resources to<br />
develop his God-given faculties. In these days<br />
of globalised competition and growing<br />
PHOTO TAKEN AT THE OLD SEMINARY WITH GUIDES OF THE TOUR REV.<br />
DN.ISSAC B. PRAKASH, K.C. SACHARIA, KOSHY MATHEW AND MS. VINI.<br />
- 7 -<br />
marginalisation and unemployment of Youth (14.4 % of the working population of the worldas<br />
compared to 6.2 % of the elder group. ILO Report 2004), it is the duty of each parish in<br />
our church to identify students who require help and provide the necessary resources and<br />
prayer to make them grow into productive and respectable members of our Church.<br />
MGOCSM has symbolically started this work, more as a model for the Parishes to<br />
emulate. We decided to adopt 100 primary students from the Parishes in Kerala , who are<br />
good at studies and require external aid to continue their studies. Applications were invited<br />
and we could select 80 students from all over Kerala for the aid. These students will be<br />
provided funds for their studies up to post-graduate or post-doctoral studies, provided they<br />
keep up their studiousness and marks. H.H.Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews IInd distributed<br />
the first year instalments of the aid to these students in July 2004 in a grand function attended<br />
by the Dignitaries of the Church and the media.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
MGOCSM DIARY 2005</div>
MGOCSM Diary 2005. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. MGOCSM is publishing its<br />
Diary 2005 in Nov. 2004 at Parumala on the Perunal Day. Send your comments and suggestions<br />
for the new one. Send the Tel.No. of parishes and institutions. If possible send Rs. 2000/<br />
- as one page sponsor of a full page advertisement. Wish you all a caring onam festival.<br />
With love and prayers, VER. REV. DR. M.C. ZACHARIAH RAMBAN.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>St. Basil Association of the Catholicate College: Pathanamthitta. It was formally</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>inaugurated on 24th September 2004 by Ver. Rev. Dr. Zacharia Remban, Gen. Sec. of</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MGOCSM in a public meeting presided by H.G. Philipos Mar Eusebius, President of</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>MGOCSM and a large gathering of students and elders.</b></div>
USA NEWS<br />
Divina Mary Varghese, San Antonio Reports:<br />
An MGOCSM unit was inaugurated at the St. George Indian Orthodox Church of<br />
San Antonio for the benefit of UTSA and the youth group of the other surrounding colleges<br />
and schools. It was inaugurated by His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, the Metropolitan<br />
of Bombay Diocese. Following members were selected as office bearers for 2004-2005.<br />
Vice-President: Joby Jacob, Treasurer: Divina Mary Varghese, Secretary: Thomas<br />
Kuruvilla, Bible Study Coordinator: Juby Joy, Adult Advisor: Mini Varghese.<br />
MGOCSM NEWS & VIEWS<br />
Articles, Short Stories, Poems and sharing your experiences are invited from<br />
members of MGOCSM in Word Format by e-mail josekan@vsnl.net to Exe. Editor<br />
Prof. Joseph K. Alexander, Kanianthra, 14/2144, Medes lane, Trivandrum-34. Phone:<br />
0471-2321955.<br />
- 8 -<br />
President resident H..G G. . PHILIPOS MAR EUSEBIUS<br />
Senior Vice P President resident Prof rof rof. . E E. . JA JACOB COB JOHN<br />
Student Vice P Presidents residents A. VIVEK GEEV GEEVARGHESE ARGHESE ALEX ALEX, K..G G. . COLLEGE P PAMP AMP AMPAD AD ADY<br />
SHERIN M. THOMAS THOMAS, ST ST. . GEORGE GEORGE, , PUTHUPP PUTHUPPALL ALL ALLY<br />
Associate Secretaries KURIAN URIAN K KUNJU UNJU UNJU, BASELIUS COLLEGE<br />
PRIY PRIYA A JA JACOB COB COB, , M.G G..H H..S S..S S., ., THUMP THUMPAMON AMON<br />
Student Jt. Secretaries ABRAHAM MA MATHEW THEW THEW, S..B B. . COLLEGE COLLEGE, , CHANGANA CHANGANACHER CHER CHERY<br />
TEEMA MAR MARY Y CHERIY CHERIYAN AN AN,<br />
CA CATHOLICA THOLICA THOLICATE TE HSS HSS, , P PATHANAMTHITT THANAMTHITT THANAMTHITTA<br />
Rev ev ev..F Fr. . Philen P P. . Mathew DIRECT DIRECTOR OR AND WARDEN WARDEN, TRIV TRIVANDRUM ANDRUM CENTRE<br />
Executive Editor Prof rof rof. . JOSEPH K K. . ALEXANDER (TREASURER)<br />
Chief Editor Rev ev ev. . D Dr. . M.C. ZA ZACHARIA CHARIA REMBAN (GEN GEN. . SECRET SECRETAR AR ARY) Y)<br />
E--MAIL MAIL: frcherian@hotmail.com<br />
VISIT MAR GREGORIOS REHABILITATION CENTRE WEBSITE : www.charityfordisabled.com<br />
and VISIT MGOCSM WEBSITE : www.mgocsmindia.com<br />
INTERNATIONAL GUEST HOUSE<br />
“A Home away from Home”, Orthodox Student Centre, Contact:<br />
Ph: 0471 - 2477604, 2469408<br />
People are funny, they want the fromt of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.<br />
Fr. John Brian<br />
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother”. (St. Mk. 3:35) Let us follow the example<br />
of St. Mary, who is considered as the greatest of all saints.<br />
Mathews Barnabas Metropolitan USA<br />
Printed and published by Rev.Dr. M.C. Zacharia Remban, Gen. Sec. MGOCSM at Jayem Press,<br />
Trivandrum. For Private Circulation. Only Donation Price Rs. 2/-. Those who require copies by<br />
post may please send necessary amount for postage<br />
EDITORIAL BOARD</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-30804742662115166132014-11-16T22:44:00.001-08:002014-11-16T22:44:12.935-08:00Niranam St.Marys church website Mistake in the Antique section <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Niranam St.Marys church website<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mistake in the Antique section<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">“There is a stone with undeciphered letters carved on it. The date
of the stone and the meaning of the inscription have not been determined.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This is a sentence in your website on Antiques of Niranam
church. Let me first congratulate you on maintaining a website of the St. Mary’s
Orthodox Church and its activities for the benefit of the younger generation
and posterity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Your statement that the date of the stone and the meaning
of inscription have not been determined is regretted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am giving its photograph below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I personally took it to the Kerala University Manuscript
Library at Kariyavattam and got it translated. They also conferred the
translation given by Mr.T.K.Joseph and Chitramezhuthu K.M.Varghese. You too can
take it to anyone who can decipher such old inscriptions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">I am reproducing the relevant pages of the “Kanianthra
Family History” book page 55-57 published in 2001 in English. This is an
abridged version of the Malayalam edition also written by me in 1991. I have
taken the material from a still earlier Malayalam edition<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">(1965) of the same book authored by late Mr. K.J.Ninan, a
contemporary of Mr.T.K.Joseph, the Chief
Archaeologist, Government of Kerala, and Mr.Chitrmezhuthu K.M.Varghese,
renowned authorities in deciphering old inscriptions in different forms . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">This particular writing is in vattezuth and pertains to the
16<sup>th</sup> century. It is not 92 AD as claimed by G.T.Macknzie in his book
"Christianity in Travancore"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The following is the reproduction of the relevant pages of
the above Book “KANIANTHRA FAMILY HISTORY” maintained in CD. (1)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="14bl">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“THOMMEN CHANDY 1507 — 1567 AD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">Chronological calculations show that this
Valiappen was the son or grandson of Thommen Valiappen; who first settled in
Mepral. This gentleman Thommen Chandy was a rich landlord and a prominent
member of the society. Even though he stayed at Mepral, he invariably attended
the Holy qurbana at Niranam church on every Sunday. He was buried inside the church
and a tomb-stone, with his name and the date of his death inscribed on it was
placed on his tomb. When the Niranam church was rebuilt, this stone slab was
embedded in the wall of the church. But later when the Niranam church was again
rebuilt, during the time of Kanianthra Kizhakaeveettil Ninan Kathanar (2), who
was the parish priest of the church (1866 – 1909) he wanted to put the slab on
the wall. Local members of the church resented it and it was kept in the store
room under the church building. Later they without realising the importance and
the historical value of the stone discarded it even from the store room. They
used it as a corner stone of the boundary line separating the church premises
from the church compound. In later years some members of the Kanianthra family
noticed the stone and realized the importance and value of it. Kovoor Dr. J.
Alexander(4), Pullucatt, Rev. Fr. Alexander Cor episcopa, Puthenparambil Mr.
K.T. Mathew, Pulinthara Shri Mammachen and Mr. K .J. Ninan consulted among themselves
and got a photograph taken of the stone. They showed this photograph to Mr. T.
K. Joseph, who was the chief archeologist in Kerala. He translated the old
Malayalam script of the inscription as </span><span style="color: red;">“Mepral – Thommen Chandy – 742 year, Medam njayar 9 –
passed away”</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">. Professor Joseph Alexander also showed
the photograph of the stone to the Manuscript Library experts at the (Kerala)
University Archaeological Department. They also ascertained and confirmed that
the date written was Malayalam era 742 year 9th Medam and “not 92nd year”, as
claimed by Dr. G.T. Mckenzie. </span><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">So, the date should be 1567 AD, Sunday, 9th
Medam (month).</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">Some of our ancestors realising the
importance of the stone, as a landmark, in their history, wanted to bring the
stone to Mepral. They went with boats and men. But somehow, the Nirvana church
members came to know of it and realizing the historical importance of the stone
took and deposited it again in the storeroom beneath the church building. So
the Kanianthra family members could not retrieve the stone. Dr. G.T. McKenzie,
I.C.S., who was the British resident of Travancore between 1899 - 1904 in his
book “Christianity in Travancore” mentions about this stone. He has written
that Niranam church is one of the oldest churches of Travancore and it was
built on the site of the church established by St.Thomas himself. He went on
saying that in that church, he saw two tomb stone slabs with writings on it. On
one of it was written in old Malayalam – “Mepral Thommen Chandy 92 Medam 9th
sunday passed away”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">This is the tomb stone of our ancestor.
The Malayalam inscription is as follows:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">“Mepral Thommen Chandy 742nd year Medam Njayara
9th Nalla Vazhi Chernnu”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">In English it can be translated as “Mepral
Thommen Chandy died on 742nd year sunday Medom 9th”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt;">He must have been a rich land lord and
inland trader of spices and prominent member of the society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Notes:-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The
Malayalam edition of the “Kanianthra Kudumba Charitram” contains more details.
This book is available with the Kanianthra Pallath Family members of the
Nirvana Parish. Their predecessor Kanianthra Pallath Thommy Chandy Kathanar
(1787-1847) was the chief parish priest of the Niranam St. Marys Orthodox
Church in his time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Kanianthra Family got converted to Christanity probably in the 10<sup>th</sup>
Century AD or earlier. Because of the persecution of the Brahmins they migrated
from Idinjillam, their native village, to Niranam in the 10<sup>th</sup>
century. They remained there till around 1460 AD, when one Valiappan migrated
to Mepral and settled there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Niranam St. Marys Orthodox Church was the parish church of the
Kanianthra Family even after they migrated to Mepral. The Mepral St. Johns
Church was built only in 1861-1864<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Rev. Ninan Kathanar was believed to be the 12<sup>th</sup> Kanianthra
Family priest of the Niranam St. Mary’s Orthodox Church. He was a monk. My
Father Fr. K.J.Alexander Corepiscopa, (1882-1955), Vicar General of the Niranam
Diocese was believed to be the 13th priest in the Family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">a. Dr. Alexander was a physician. Kanianthra Family History was first
written by him. He started writing it in 1916 when he was studying in England
for his MBBS Degree. It was a brief synopsis completed after extensive research
and first published in 1935<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">b. Pullucat Rev.Fr.Alexander of the Kanianthra family
was the Parish priest of the Mepral Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">c. Mr. K.T.Mathew IFS, educated in England, was in
Tamil Nadu Government Service <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">d. Pulinthra Mammachen was a senior member of the
Kanianthra family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">e. Mr. K.J. Ninan, author of the second edition
(1965) of the “Kanianthra Kudumba Charitram” was a member of the editorial
board of Malayala Manorama Daily and a member of the Board of Directors of the
Malayala Manorama Company<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">These persons took the
photograph to Mr.T.K.Joseph and Chitramezhuthu for translation of the
inscription. Later in 1984 I personally took it to the Manuscript Library
of the Kerala University for translation.</span></strong><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This photograph of the
tombstone was taken in the 1940's by these 5 persons</span></strong><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 48.0pt; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-56900718898788620252014-11-16T22:30:00.001-08:002014-11-16T22:30:55.489-08:00ELECTION OF BISHOPS IN MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">I
have been the chief Election Officer of the Malankara Association 4 times since
1977.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">1.
16th May 1977 at Kottayam to elect 5 Bishops .</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">2.
1st may 1980 at Kottayam to elect Catholicos Designate, Lay Trustee and
the formal election of the Managing Committee.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">3.
28th Dec. 1982 at Thiruvalla to elect 5 Bishops. We were ready with all the
paraphernalia for the conduct of the election.12 were in the list. 7 of them
declined and hence the remaining 5 were declared elected.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">4.
29th Dec. 1987 at Kottayam to elect one as Bishop and a Priest trustee. For the
Bishop post 10 were in the list.3 declined. Others contested. But none got the
required majority, Late Rev Fr. Mathai Nooranal got elected as priest trustee.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">In
the next Association held at Pathanamthitta, I declined to participate as my
cousin H.G.Job Mar Philoxenos was a contender.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Our
Church is Episcopal. Yet our election of Church leaders is reasonably
democratic and scientific. I still agree that there are many more details
remain to be addressed to perfect the system.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">But
to compare the selection of our Bishop or Catholicos to the election of the
President of USA or any politician is preposterous.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">It
is the Malankara Metropolitan (and not the People in the Church), who is
selecting His Bishops, But He gives enough importance to the opinion of the
church members about each candidate, by asking at least 30 of them to nominate
any candidate.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">He
also gives very great value to the opinion of experts committee, Managing
committee and the Synod who are all His advisors in this selection process.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The
main guide lines for the election of the Bishops and trustees were already
available. With the help of The Office Secretary Mr. O.A.Mathew we drew up
the sub rules and election orders on the basis of our experience over the years
and the brochure of the Parliament election. ( in which I had enough experience
since 1957) .I think this is being still followed ,though the latest Malankara
Association elected a person other than from the list recommended by the <u>"Bava
in Synod and Managing Committee."</u></span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">The
election of a Bishop is very much unlike that of a politician. A person who
claims and offers himself as being worthy to become a Bishop should not be
elected under any circumstance. This is not a post of profit or emoluments. It
is a <u>"pattam Kettal</u> "to be a servant of God and of the Church.
It is true that some are not able to live up to that ideal.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Hence
the system evolved out by 1977-1989 and existing in our Church (I Hope) at
present is ideal.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Any
30 or more members of the Malankara Association can present a request to
the Malankara Metrpolitan specifying that so and so is in their
opinion suitable to become a Bishop.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Then
the sub-committee of the working committee of our church request the nominated
candidate to give a detailed biodata in the proforma supplied from the
office. After receiving this bio data , the office will send out a 4 page
printed proforma to 100 to 150 persons who know the particular priest for
a fairly long period of time, with a printed note as to how to fill up
the pro-forma.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">This
is a very confidential and detailed document.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16pt;">On
getting them the committee objectively gives marks for each point of merit and
demerit of candidates to become a Bishop of our Church.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Educational attainments,
spiritual life pattern, behaviour in the society, attitude towards church and
social issues, health, physical appearance etc, are all considered.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">Then each candidate is evaluated and given marks
on the basis of the biodata and confidential report. </span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">They are ranked on the basis of the total marks
attained by each of them.</span></b><b><span style="color: #427d64; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt;">It is this list that is
submitted by the Committee to Bava from </span></b></div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-81254639064430940642014-11-16T21:54:00.000-08:002014-11-16T21:54:05.128-08:00Teacher and students.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Article for the Souvenir of The Poorva Vidhyarthi Sanghatana of the
Government College, Kottayam. February 2006<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Teacher
and students.</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: right;">
Prof.Joseph K. Alexander<o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: right;">
First Principal of the
Kottayam <o:p></o:p></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: right;">
Government College. Nattakam. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoTitle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Education of a child starts
in the womb of the mother.” When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby
moved within her.”Bible. Luke.1: 41.Babes in womb hear what goes outside. So the mother, father and near relatives who
frequent the mother, in that order of priority, are the first type of teachers.
When the student start going into the brick and mortar schools and colleges, we
have teachers in the formal meaning of that term. The primary and the
university level teachers are of two different types in their role and relation
to the students.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The role
of the parents, near relatives, priests, elders and wise men of a society is to
pass on their knowledge and skills to the child. This is to induct the young
into ways of feeling, thinking, believing and acting in the way that society
does. This is to make the child to conform to that social pattern and to make
the young a regular member of that society. The role of the primary teacher is
a continuation of this along with the inculcation of the three r s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">In both
these categories of primary teachers, the teacher is not only a disciplinarian,
but also a confidant of the student. The child must feel free to confide all
his thinking, feelings and opinions to the parent / teacher, to get it
corrected and to conform to the ethical standards of that society. Here the
teacher is a surrogate of the parents and elders. So even punishing an erring
pupil is well within his duty and will be appreciated by the child, if not
then, later in reflective moods. He may even venerate such character moulders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
relation of the University teacher on the other hand is different. In the
university and colleges the teacher induce in the student new political and
economic ideas and thoughts necessary for social change and development Though
he is merely expected to argue out both sides of the controversial issues to
make his pupil to form his opinion, the teacher himself in the process may take
a definite position of left or right. So he may endanger himself to be favored
or not, by the political grouping in power with all its consequences. The
teacher and the student may come thus to hold even differing views on
controversial issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">While at
the school, the relation of the teacher to the student is that of a substitute
to parent - intimate, caring, and concerned- at the university level the
relation is more of a counselor or guide. It is not paternal. It is that of an
intimate and caring friend. There also, student must have enough freedom and
intimacy to rub shoulders with his teacher to equip and prune him to excel
others in the society. In the school the teacher tries to make him conform to
the society, in the University he helps him to articulate and communicate his
own ideas effectively and to compete and excel others. He-the future
citizen-has to project his own individuality to have a niche for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
present day professional teachers of school or university are a recent species
in the history of education. With the onslaught of professionalism, the
missionary zeal of the erstwhile teacher has disappeared except in a minority
of teachers. The unionized modern teacher perhaps may fail to create intimacy /
rapport with his students. For them, he may appear to be too self-centered or
group oriented. So the old world gurukulam type ideal teacher student relationship
is now a myth. Exceptions only prove the rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">To
conclude, a teacher whether of the school; or college, should be an intimate
friend of the pupil and capable of guiding his ward. This warrants real love
for the profession, and his students. The university teacher must also have the
ability to rise to the ideal standards, his teen aged ward expect him to be. He
must be sincere, honest, hardworking, informative, helpful problem-solver and
concerned about his wards. If he has these qualities and can convey to his
students that he has these abilities, they will consider him as their role
model, think tank and moulder of their individualities. This is what a student
expects from his university teacher. Indeed a real challenging profession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">I am aware that there are several other aspects of the relation between
the teacher and the student that warrant further scrutiny. This is only one
aspect of that relation. Others can be examined later or by others who are
involved in working out these relations for the benefit of themselves and the
society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">*******************************************************************<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-49554271686081870092014-10-14T06:28:00.004-07:002014-10-14T06:28:57.824-07:00FAREWELL SPEECH-<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>FAREWELL SPEECH- </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(27 July 2014, Kottayam)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Joseph K Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I came into the MGOCSM as a school
student, through the advice of my father and teachers of the Thiruvalla MGM
High School, Mr. C O Oommen and Mr. C M John. Both were General Secretaries of MGOCSM.
After attending the 1942 Annual Conference at Thiruvalla Balikamadom GHS and
the 1944 Conference as a religious retreat-ant at the M D Seminary Elias Chapel
my further education and employment lead me out of Travancore. The return in
1966 to the University College Trivandrum as HOD of Economics and principal of
Government College, Kottayam in 1972, prompted H G Philipos Mar Theophilos,
President, to reinvent and induct me back into the MGOCSM. Since then, I am in
the Movement in one or another official capacity and a resource person. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Knowing the Movement and the nature
of its work from the days Rev. Dn. K. Philipos (later H G Philipos Mar
Theophilos) was its General Secretary in 1942. and through the period of its
Presidents; H.G. Philipose Mar Theophilos, H G Philipos Mar Eusebius, and H G
Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, present President who joined the Movement as a young
Deacon and General Secretaries; Mr. Philipos Thomas, Rev Fathers P C Cherian,
George Kurien, John Thomas, Dr M C Cherian, .Dr. V.M Abraham and now Rev Fr. Dr.Varghese
Varghese<span style="color: red;">.</span> I felt it my duty right and honour<span style="color: red;"> </span>as a senior member, to be an active volunteer in the
Movement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">As Senior Vice President
of the MGOCSM for 11 years (1978-“89), its director of the Trivandrum Complex
and hostel 19 years (1983-2002), Chairman of the constructions at Trivandrum
center second phase 1983-1985 and member of the CHAIROS Committee 2004- 2012, I
did what I could for the Movement. The prestigious Education Orientation Course
of the MGOCSM, 1981, its journal 2004-2006, and Website 2004-2007 were started
by me with support of its President Thirumenis. Currently I am the Treasurer of
MGOCSM from 2002.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">I, Retd. Director,
Collegiate Education, Kerala Govt. Service is an economist. Was President of
the Kerala Dhana Sasthra Academy 1970-1972, Head of the Department of Economics
of the Victoria College, Palghat 1962-1966, HOD of the University College
Trivandrum 1966-1972, Founder-principal of Govt. College, Kottayam, 1972-1980,
member of the Kerala University Senate 1961-1964 and Academic Bodies1965-1983;
Hon-Director of the prestigious Christian Study Center of Kerala University1994-1996
and research fellow of University Grants Commission1983-1987. I have published
ten books and 20 research papers. Was emeritus professor of economics in the
Marthoma St. Thomas College, Kozenchery1985-1987; was examiner and expert member
in the PSC of Kerala and Karnataka States, Southern Railway Board, New India Assurance
Company, and Staff selection of PSC and Private Colleges in Kerala. After
retirement; was a Faculty Member of the Civil Service Academy, Trivandrum for
over a decade, was a member of the MOC official bodies including the Church
Planning Committee, member of the Corporate Colleges and later of the Schools
Governing Bodies of the Church and three
times Chief Election Officer of the Malankara Association of MOC, I am now active
as chairman of Kerala Regional Branch of Indian Institute of Public
Administration from 2004 and member of its Executive council at Delhi. Being a
founder member of the Mar Gregorios Rehabilitation Center Munnammoodu
Trivandrum in 1981, is its Vice President for the last couple of decades. I
have been a resource person for most of the projects started by the then new
Bishop H G Geevarghese Mar Dioscorus of the new Trivandrum Diocese of the MOC in
the last quarter of last Century from 1980.</span><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A galaxy of eminent
leaders nurtured the MGOCSM in its hundred years from 1908. Despite, it has an
irregular history. In some of the years it blossomed like a fresh flower in
youth, well watered, weeded and nourished by the mentors; and in others, it
looked as if, about to wither for want of their involvement. In the days of H G
Philipos Mar Theophilos the Movement developed many wings and branches and Rev
Fr P C Cherian took it to outside Kerala to cities of India. He made it a National
Movement. In the days of H G Philipos Mar Eusebius the Movement became
international especially through the efforts of the President, General
Secretary Rev. Fr. M C Cherian and the Education Orientation Fraternity who
started units of MGOCSM in churches in every part of the World where they
worked. The present President H G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos is spreading the
Movement to more Indian areas outside Kerala to take its message to all the
diaspora by organizing its Annual conferences in different parts of India <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">.During my heavy duty as
founder principal of the Kottayam Govt. College, I contributed all my spare moments
for the growth of the Movement. I thank all the Presidents, General
Secretaries, Executive Committee members and the General Assemblies of the
Movement, its Officers and managers of its various wings for the hearty
co-operation they rendered to my role in the MGOCSM and giving me all help in
writing its history of 100 years. I will be ninety on 25th November 2014. Recently
I had difficulty in travelling from TVM to Kottayam to attend the meetings of
the Movement or take active role in its work more because of the illness of my
wife. She and my children were a great support for enabling me to work in all
social services I ventured. Besides you all, I thank them also for their
cooperation in making my work easy. May I now appeal to all of you to work hard
and contribute your might to make MGOCSM an effective arm of MOC all over the World?
I Pray to God to shower blessings on all of you. <em><span style="font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<em><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Prof. Joseph K Alexander; DOB-25-11-1924;</span></b></em><em><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">TC 14/2144, Kanianthra,
PRA. B.20- Medes Lane. Palayam TVM-695034.</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Spouse : Annamma Joseph; House Wife;
DOB-29-01-1927</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Phone 0471-2321955; Mobile--9447811811</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"> ID </span></em><a href="mailto:josekan@asianetindia.com"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 150%;">josekan@asianetindia.com</span></a><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">Children 1. Alex Jose F C A; Retired from Bahrain</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">2 Stephen
Jose Bsc Agr.; MEP-IIM-Ahmedabad; Retd</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">3. Alexy
Jose F C A (daughter); Director General Finance, Keltron TVM.</span></em><em><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-58994444467472345372014-10-14T00:31:00.000-07:002014-10-14T00:32:38.449-07:00FROM COLLEGES TO SCHOOL<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b>tImtf-Pn \n¶pw kvIqfn-te-</b></span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 20px;"><b>¡p.</b> </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 15pt;"> s{]m^.-tPm-k^v sI.-A-e-Ivkm-À</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> ae-¦c
HmÀX-tUmIvkv k`-bpsS hnZym-À°n {]Øm\w tImtfPv hnZym-À°n-I-fmb ]pXnb
Xe-ap-d-bpsS Bßo-b-þ-k-ap-Zm-bnI hfÀ¨¡p thn </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">1908</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">  Øm]n-X-am-bn.- P-\p-hcn </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1-3</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">\mfp-I-fn Xncp-hà _men-Im-aTw
kvIqfn h¨p \S¶ B tIm¬^-d³-kn hfsc Npcp¡w hnZymÀ°nIsf Dm-bn-cp-¶p-Åp.- hmÀjnI
tIm¬^-d-³kp-IÄ \S-¯p-I, ktkvIq-fp-Ifpw anjy-\-dn-th-ebpw kPo-h-am-t¡ ktµiw {]N-cn-¸n-¡p-I Ch-bm-bn-cp¶p XpSÀ¶p-Å- hÀj§-fnse apJy ]cn-]mSn. Ch cpw k`-bpw Éo_m-Zmk kaq-lhpw bYm-{Iaw Gsä-Sp¯
tij-amWv tIm¬^-d³kp-I-fn hnZymÀ°n-I-fpsS ]¦m-fn-¯-¯n\p Du¶Â In«n-b-Xv. C¶v
hnZymÀ°n {]Øm\w hfÀ¶v ]´-en¨v Hcp henb </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">kv]ocn-NzÂ
_\n-b³ {So</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">”</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> (</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Spiritual Banyan Tree) </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">Bbn hfÀ¶p.
AXnsâ tIm¬^-d³kp-IÄ hnZymÀ°n-I-fpsS henb kwKa-§-fm-bn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">{]mtZ-inI
bqWn-äp-IÄ </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> hnZymÀ°n
{]Øm-\-¯n\v {]mtZ-inI bqWn-äp-IÄ Dm-I-W-sa¶ Bibw </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1910</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Â Dcp¯ncnªp F¦nepw</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> 1934 </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">Â BWv AXv \nb-am-h-en-bnÂ
tNÀ¯Xv. B hÀjw ]Xn-½q¶v <br />
{]m: bqWn-äp-IÄ \ne-hn h¶p. Ah-bpsS `mc-h-ln-I-fmb hnZymÀ°n-IÄ {]Øm-\-¯n kPoh
{]hÀ¯-I-cm-bn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> ]¯\wXn«
tImtf-Pnsâ {]n³kn-¸-fm-bn-cp¶ Xp¼-a¬ `{Zm-k\sa{Xm-t¸m-en¯ A`n-hµy Um\n-tb amÀ
]o-e-Ivko-t\mkv {]Øm\¯nsâ {]kn-U-mbn. B
</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1953-67</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Ime-L-«-¯n tImtfPv hnZymÀ°n-IÄ¡v {]Øm-\-¯nÂ
]s¦-Sp-¡p¶Xn\v IqSp-X Ahkc-§Ä Dmbn. Cu {]m: bqWnäv hÀjw apgp-h³ ^e-{]-Z-ambn
{]hÀ¯n-¨Xv amXr-I-bm-bn. ]pXnb Cu Xcw tImtfPv bqWn-äp-IÄ \ne-hn h¶p. sslkvIqÄ
hnZymÀ°n-Isf (knIvkvXv t^md-¯nse) AwK-§-fm¡p¶ \nb-a-t`-Z-KXn </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1955</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Â Dmbn. A§s\ kvIqÄ
bqWn-äp-Ifpw Dm-bn. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1955</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">
 </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">22 </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">{]m: bqWn-äp-IÄ
Dm-bn-cp-¶p. Ch-cpsS {]hÀ¯\w aqew hmÀjnI tIm¬^-d-³kn ]s¦-Sp-¡p¶
hnZymÀ°n-I-fpsS kwJy hÀ[n-¨p.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1958 </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">se k`m-sF-Iy-t¯msS Ah-cpsS
hnZymÀ°n {]Øm-\-§-fpw sFIy-s¸-«p. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1960</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;">
 C§s\ H¶n¨p \S¶ BZy-tIm¬^-d³kv hfsc hnZymÀ°n-I-sfbpw apXnÀ¶-h-scbpw BIÀjn¨p;
]s¦-Sp-¸n-¨p.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1968</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Â {]Øm-\-¯nsâ {]kn-U-mbn A`n-h-µy
^n-en-t¸mkv amÀ sX-tbm-^n-temkpw <br />
P\-d sk{I-«-dn-bmbn bphsshZnI³ ]n.kn sNdn-bm\pw Npa-X-e-tb-äp. {]m: bqWn-äp-IÄ
kµÀin¨pw Ah-cpsS ]cn-]m-Sn-I-fn ]s¦-Sp¯pw ChÀ bqWn-äp-Isf t{]mÕm-ln-¸n-¨Xv <br />
hnZymÀ°n-IÄ¡v DÕmlw ]IÀ¶p.- {]-tXyIw \S-¶n-cp¶ s]¬Ip-«n-I-fpsS tIm¬^-d³kv <br />
B¬Ip-«n-I-fp-tS-Xn-t\mSv tbmPn-¸n¨v H¶m¡n 1968 apXÂ \S-¯n-bXv hnZymÀ°n-IÄ¡v
IqSp-XÂ BIÀj-I-am-bn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">{_m©p-IÄ </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> {]Øm\¯n\v </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1968</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Â
\mep-Xcw {_m©p-IfmWp-m-bn-cp-¶-Xv: tImtfPv bqWn-äp-IÄ, kvIqÄ bqWn-äp-IÄ,
saUn-¡Â hnZymÀ°nI-fpsS bqWn-äp-IÄ, sSIv\n-¡Â hnZymÀ°n-I-fpsS <br />
bqWn-äp-IÄ. CXn-\p-tijw hfscb[nIw {]m: bqWn-äp-Ifpw {]Øm-\-¯nsâ {_m©p-Ifpw <br />
Øm]n-X-am-bn. hnZymÀ°n-IÄ¡v Xma-kn¨p ]Tn-¡m-\pÅ ÌpUâv skâdp-IÄ tIm«bw, <br />
Xncp-h-\-´-]pcw, Bep-h, tImX-aw-Kew F¶n-hn-S-§-fnepw, anjy-\-dn-t^mdw,
enäddnÂt^m-dw, <br />
HmUn-tbm-þ-hn-Un-tbm- hnw-Kv, sslkvIqÄ tIm¬^-d³kv, kvIqÄ Sot¨Àkn-sâbpw tImtfPv </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12pt;">A²ym-]-I-cp-tSbpw
kwL-S-\-IÄ, doP-\-dÂ-þ-tkm-WÂ, GI-Zn-\-tIm¬^-d³kp-IÄ F¶nh </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12pt;">
DZm-l-c-W-§-fm-Wv.</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1990</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Â </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">300</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> {]mtZ-inI bqWn-äp-IÄ tIcf-¯nepw thsd </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">300</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <br />
bqWn-äp-IÄ C³Uy-bpsS CX-c-`m-K-§-fnepw, C\n-bp-samcp 200 bqWn-äp-IÄ C³Uy¡p
]pd¯qw Dm-bn-cp-¶p -F¶pw, Dt±iw </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">50,000 </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">hnZymÀ°n-IÄ Ch-bn IqsS hnZymÀ°n {]Øm-\-¯nÂ
AwK-§-fm-bn-cp¶p F¶pw Hcp dnt¸mÀ«n sk{I-«dn hmbn-¡p-I-bp-m-bn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">kvIqÄ tIm¬^-d³kv </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> hÀjw tXmdpw hnhn[ tIm¬^-d³kp-I-fnÂ
]s¦-Sp-¡p¶ hnZymÀ°n-þ-hn-ZymÀ°n-\n-I-fpsS ssh]p-eyw, hmÀjn-I -tIm¬^-d³kns\
hn`-Pn-¡m³ t{]cn-¸n-¨p. kvIqÄ hnZymÀ°n-IÄ¡mbn Hcp Pq\n-bÀ hmÀjnI tIm¬^-d³kv
\S-¯p-¶-Xns\]än </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1973</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> apXÂ Btem-N-\-bm-bn. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1977</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> Â
Uo¡³ tXm-akv Ipcy³ Cu tIm¬^-d³knsâ \S-¯n-¸n-\mbn \nban X-\mbn. At±-l-¯nsâ ]cn-{ia ^e-ambn </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">1979</span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Â
BZys¯ sslkvIqÄ hmÀjnI tIm¬^-d³kv tIm«b¯p \S-¶p. Ct¸mÄ tImtfPv hnZymÀ°n
tIm¬^-d³kpw kvIqÄ tIm¬^-d³kpw hÀjw -tXmdpw \S¶p hcp-¶p.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> ap³hÀj-§-fn do{So«n\mbn hcp¶ 20þ30
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5.65pt 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: ML-TTKarthika; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: ML-TTKarthika;"> </span></div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-24598383755148903532014-10-13T23:28:00.000-07:002014-10-13T23:28:04.954-07:00Mar Alvares Julius 1, Syrian Arch Bishop of India And Ceylon.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Mar Alvares Julius 1, Syrian
Arch Bishop of India And Ceylon.</span></b><o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">This attempt is to bring to light
certain events and circumstances led to what we ought to know about Malankara
Orthodox Church Goan Archbishop H.G.Mar Alvares Julius 1. Some of these I had
brought to the notice of Late H.H. Baselius Marthoma Mathews 1st. I also posted
in the ICON a message, besides publishing it in the “News and Views” a
quarterly (Vol. 1. Book 7, Oct- December 2005) published by MGOCSM India,
Kottayam and its copy on the MGOCSM website www.mgocsmindia.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">It is true that some research initiated
by late H.G. Philipos Mar Theophilus and H.H.Baselius Marthoma Mathews 1<sup>st</sup>
prompted Rev.Fr.Dr.K.M. George and Rev. Fr.T.E.Issac, the then parish priest at
Goa, to fish out the location of the burial and interned mortal remains of
H.G.Alvares. That became necessary because His Grace had left his community and
his palace in Brahmawar and went back to Goa, for reasons unknown to us at
present. True, we can surmise and attribute reasons now for that. In any case,
it is a fact that Malankara Orthodox Church lost contact of this great thinker,
saint, believer in Orthodox Church and patriot<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Some of us are prone to censure
ourselves for the neglect we showed to His grace in his waning years 1913-‘23.
Was this due to our fault or due to a willful option of His Grace? This
requires further probing. I am inclined to surmise that the latter caused the
neglect, because of a structural and organizational kink in our Church at that
time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Rev.Fr.Alvares’personality.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">To understand his change of mind we
have to probe his life and beliefs. His social work as a priest during
1867-‘87, his saintly life, philanthropy, his patriotism and yearning for
freedom from the foreign Portuguese yoke, his journalistic acumen and his
aristocratic birth had won a good number of followers for him in Goa and South
Canara. Because of political constraints and excommunication by the Goan
Catholic Church Hierarchy he had to go out of Goa and to concentrate his
activities among his followers in Brahmawar.
.The Malankara Syrian Orthodox church captivated him, not only because
it is continuation of the Original Orthodox Church, but also, had fought for
its freedom and had extricated itself out of the Portuguese Yoke. So he came to
Travancore in 1887, met our prelates and renounced the faith in Catholic Church
to rejoin the Malankara Orthodox Church. Two years later in 1889 he was
ordained as our Out-side Kerala Arch Bishop of India and Ceylon. Malankara
Metropolitan Pulikottil Mar Joseph Dionysius 11nd and St. Parumala Mar
Gregorios led this consecration ceremony. All other bishops of our Church
participated in the ceremony.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The backdrop of Brahmawar Mission<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">His Grace Mar Alvares had over 5000 members
as followers in Brahmawar. He wanted them to learn the liturgy and catechism of
the Malankara Orthodox church and requested the Malankara Metropolitan,
Pulikottil Thirumeni to send a missionary to Brahmawar. Pulikottil
Thirumeni selected a very dynamic
evangelist (1) and orator Rev.Dn.K.J.Alexander, Kanianthra for the work.
Because of his marriage to a very young girl of 11 years he was yearning for an
out-of-home work. Rev.Dn.K.J.Alexander eagerly accepted the work. His first lap
of the journey to Brahmawar by all modes of travel including bullock cart was
reported in the Malayala Manorama in 1905. (I do not have with me at present
the exact date of the report.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Brahmawar mission started<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">QUOTE: Prof. Joseph K. Alexander &
Achamma Ammini Joseph. “Kanianthra Family History”- 2000. Page 137, for a brief
note on this missionary and his work in Brahmawar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div class="Bodyless" style="text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">“He (</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Rev.Dn.K.J.Alexander<i>)
passed the matriculation examination from S.B.College, Changanacherry. Then
according to the wishes of the community and family, he was ordained as a
Deacon by His Holiness St.Gregorios of Parumala (Parumala Thirumeni). Then he
joined old seminary at Kottayam and started learning Syriac and Theology.
Deacon Alexander started publishing a magazine on behalf of the Church called
‘Suviseshakan’. To increase its circulation and for evangelical work (</i>parish
mission<i>), he used to go to almost all the Parishes in our Church in
Travancore (specially around kottayam) and deliver sermons.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="Bodyless">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">In 1902, at the age of 20, Deacon
Alexander married Achiamma, daughter of Shri Chandy Kunju, Marett. It is
interesting to note the marriage customs of those days. The bride was only 11
years old. The girl child bride adorned with gold ornaments from head to foot
was taken in a palanquin to the church. The bridegroom came riding a horse.
They were married at the Orthodox Church, Kallupara.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">It was at this time
that Fr: Julius of the Mangalore Catholic Church joined our Church with his
followers. The Orthodox Church ordained him as Bishop Alvares Mar Julius 1st in
1889 and made him the Bishop of Karnataka (</span></i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Syrian Arch Bishop of India and Ceylon<i>). When Bishop
Alvares wanted to start a mission centre in south Karnataka, he appealed to our
Bishops to select a suitable person for the job. Pulicottil Mar Dionysius II
chose Deacon Alexander for this job. Thus Deacon Alexander went to Karnataka in
1905 (?), and started the Orthodox Mission Centre at Brahmawar. His peripatetic
missionary work slowly and steadily spread to many places in Karnataka, Andhra
and Maharashtra. He started to study the languages of these places, so that he
could directly converse with the congregation. Bibles in Kannada, Marathi,
Telugu and Hindi were there in Achen’s collection of books.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div align="left" class="Bodyless">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Deacon
Alexander started a primary school at Brahmawar by accepting donations and
conducting a lottery</span></i><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">.(2)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="left" class="Bodyless">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">Priests
later continued his work at Brahmawar: - Thumpamon Koshy Achen, Kuriakose
Achen, Geevarghese Achen, and Vettiyil Annamma and others. Now Rev. Fr. Lazer
of Pathanapuram Dayara is in charge of the Institutions at Brahmawar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<i><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">While at Brahmawar one
Fr. Noronha, a Mangalorian was his senior friend and a co-worker in the mission
field. Many years later Fr. Alexander revisited Brahmawar <b>(3</b>) and God
willed it so, because that was the date on which his friend Fr. Noronha died.” <b>(4</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="Bodyless">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">The
Anglican Bishop of Bombay gave Deacon Alexander a scholarship to study theology
at the Bishop’s college, Calcutta. ……………………………………………………………………………………. St. John’s
Church, Mepral was re-opened after its closure a second time in June 1909. The
court decided the church case in favour of Kanianthra Vathapallil Achen. But he
was too old. So the Parishners recalled Deacon Alexander from Calcutta to carry
on the parish work at Mepral. Thus he had to return from Calcutta in 1911
without completing his studies. He came to Mangalore and Archbishop Alvares Mar
Julius ordained him as priest in 1911.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Quote from “News and Views” cited
above. The ordination Kalpana of the Archbishop, will be an eye-opener to the
readers.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Archbishop Mar Alvares ordains
Priests for Malankara Church<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: red;">“BISHOP H.G. ALVARES MAR JULIUS
ORDAINS PRIESTS FOR MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>We have good information about H.G.Alvares Mar
Julius, a Metropolitan of the Malankara Church and Bishop of India and Ceylon
Diocese. But many of our Church leaders are unaware of the fact that</i><i> His Grace had ordained two priests and a deacon from
Travancore-Cochin area for the Malankara Church.</i><i> They were Rev. Fr. Kanianthra Joseph
Alexander, Rev. Fr. Lukose of Kannamcote and Rev Dn. David of Kunnamkulam (page
32 of XRAY, written in the 1930 s (author M. M. Varky, Trivandrum.) This
Kanianthra priest later became a cor-episcopa and was the Vicar General (from
1949 till his death in 1955) of the Niranam Diocese of late H.G.Thoma Mar
Dionysius of the Malankara Orthodox Church, The Diploma issued at his
ordination by<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>H.G. Bishop Alvares is given below.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">(S</span></i><i><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">EAL OF THE </span></i><i><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">M</span></i><i><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.5pt;">ETROPOLITAN</span></i><i><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 19.0pt;">)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText2">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">In
the name of the Essential, Self Existing, Eternal and All-Powerful God. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h1>
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Mar Alvares Julius<o:p></o:p></span></i></h1>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i>The Syrian Metropolitan of
India and Ceylon.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Divine Blessings to all who
come to know this Diploma.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>By this We certify that, on Sunday the 15th
October 1911, corresponding to 29th Kanni 1087, with the permission</i><i> </i><i>of
Mar Dionysius, the Syrian Metropolitan of Malabar, after all necessary
preparations We did perform, with great solemnity the holy sacrifice of
Koorbana in which after invoking the Holy Ghost and the intercession of Virgin
Mary, of all angels and Saints, We conferred the holy order of Priesthood on
the deacon, Kanianthra Joseph Alexander of Mepral, Travancore, in the Saint
Mary’s Church of Milagris at Brahmavar in South Canara.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>In this solemnity about five thousand of our
Christians took part.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText3">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;">Given
on 15th of October 1911 at our Archiepiscopal residence at Brahmavar, South
Canara.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none;">
<i>S/d<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none;">
<i>MAR ALVARES JULIUS I<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none;">
<i>Syrian Arch Bishop of India
and Ceylon”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brahmawar Mission
continues<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The background for the starting of the mission was
given in detail only to highlight the main role of the Malankara Syrian
Orthodox Church. The Church continued its mission work for the </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Brahmavar</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Church and the School we started. Lay workers like Vettiyil
Ms. Annamma of Vakathanam worked among the women in Brahmawar till 1930, till
her parents called her back for a late marriage. She has two children in that
marriage. I got a narration directly from her of her work and the names of
priests that worked in that mission field. It is true that there were lapses in
our work, after the 1930 s, till the ecclesiasts from Pathanapuram Dayara took
over the mission in 1966.This happened with the appointment of H.G. Thomas Mar
Themothios as the Metropolitan for Malabar Diocese. But let us note the
following facts.<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">In 1911
when he ordained Rev.Fr.K.J.Alexander, the Arch Bishop Mar Alvares was
staying in the Arch Bishops Palace in Brahmawar.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">In 1913
he left Brahmawar and went back to Goa.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Even
though H.G.Mar Alvares had left Brahmawar, Malankara Church continued the
mission work in that field. This is evident from the work of Rev. Koshy
Achen, Ms.Annamma and others in the
1930 s <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">In the
1930 s girls from Brahmawar who studied in the primary school were brought
for high school education to Thiruvalla Balikamadam Girls English High
School. This practice was continued till the school at Brahmawar was
upgraded to a high school. During the short Onam vacation these children
were accomodated as honoured guests in Christian houses at Thiruvalla. I
remember 3 girls each staying in my house at Mepral in 1937- 1940 period.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ol>
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Thus while our Church continued our
mission work, the Arch Bishop lost / relinquished his honorifics, insignia and
robes and left for Goa. Why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The structural kink in the Church<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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Now let us analyze the new kink in the structure
and organisation of Malankara Church that I mentioned in the 3 rd Para above.
By 1912-1913, H.G.Mar Alvares lost his confidence in Malankara Church in
preserving its freedom. <o:p></o:p></div>
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1.His grace joined our Church in 1887 for its
orthodoxy, independence, history of freedom struggle that culminated in Coonan
Kurisu sathyam and its pious personalities and because he was excommunicated,
by the Catholic Church in Goa.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2.The Royal Court Judgment of Mithunam 30<sup>th</sup>
1889 came soon after his consecration as Arch Bishop on 29-7-1889. It was true
that our Church had an affair from 1875 (Synod of Mulanthuruthi 1876) with the
Antiochan Church and its Patriarch. But with this judgment we were conceding
more powers to the patriarch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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3.
Patriarch Mar Abdulla came in 1909 to Malankara and in 1911 created high
handedly a rival Malankara Metropolitan trustee in the place of Vattaseril Mar
Dionysius. The result was a civil case. So H.G.Alvares lost confidence in the
ability of the Orthodox Church to preserve its independence.<o:p></o:p></div>
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4.His Grace might also have thought that
Malankara Church may not now be able to support his poor followers in Brahmawar
in the way and size he expected.<o:p></o:p></div>
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H.G.Alvares left his people and went to Goa.
The Malankara Orthodox Church lost contact of him. I would rather present it
this way. He eased himself out of our contact.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Goan authorities arrested him and divested
him of all insignia and robes. But his faith in our Church and its orthodoxy
made him to continue to wear the black robe of the Rembans of our Church. To
his last days his concern was for the poor Goans. He was begging on the streets for food for them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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If our Church were to come to know of these
developments, perhaps we could have persuaded him to come to Niranam for a
retired life, though that was unthinkable in those days. Yet it is true that
Malankara Orthodox church failed in its duty to actively support the Brahmawar
mission after 1913 till<o:p></o:p></div>
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Note: -1. P.P.Varkey- Parethanaya Kanianthra
Achen- Church Weekly. 1956 April 8<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b> </b>2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 13.0pt;">I have
seen the account books and receipt book-bits of this lottery in his antique box
from Brahmawar days. It is this School that has now bloomed into a College
owned and managed by our Church. After organizing the community under the able
guidance of the Archbishop, they started the Malankara Syrian Worship and
Qurbana. Thus Priests from Travancore continued Rev.Dn.Alexander’s work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">3.Return to Note 1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;"> 4.</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Another Rev.Fr.Norohna went and established an out-post of this
mission in Thiruchirapally.When this writer was a student there in St Josephs
college (1944-48) he visited this small community and their Church..Mr.Ponniah
owner of the Ponniah School was a rich member of this community. Pathanapuram
Dayara purchased this Ponniah School from him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-28606270796546189072014-10-11T06:31:00.001-07:002014-10-11T06:31:22.251-07:00CLIMBING JERUSALEM <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CLIMBING <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">JERUSALEM</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Travelogue<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Prof.Joseph K Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CONTENTS<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
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Message</div>
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Preface Page</div>
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1 Why the <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place>
Tour</div>
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2. Preparations</div>
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3. <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city> and other <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Air</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ports</st1:placetype></st1:place>
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4. Thirty
Days in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region></div>
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5.
<st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place> Tour</div>
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6. <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></div>
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7. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> and <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city></div>
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8. <st1:city w:st="on">Giza</st1:city> Pyramids</div>
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9. <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> Crossing</div>
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10. Crossing the Taba Boarder</div>
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11. <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place></div>
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12. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place></div>
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13. Enter <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
in <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city></div>
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14. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place></div>
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15. Re-enter Israel- En Karem</div>
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16. <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place>
Olive Garden</div>
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17. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Tabor</st1:placename></st1:place></div>
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18. <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place></div>
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19. Tour of UAE</div>
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20. <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Preface<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
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When my grand daughter came to
know of my tour she requested and I agreed to write about my <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> pilgrimage; no our tour. I went
with my wife: and my son Alex and his wife Lalitha. We went along with a tour
group arranged by Rev. Fr. John Sankarathil Secretary, Martha Mariam Samajam,
Catholicate Aramana, Devalokam and Mr. Cherian Kuriakose of Keli Tours, Mumbai.
This pilgrimage was started by H G. Zacharias Mar Theophilos of Malabar Diocese,
when he was the President of the M M Samajam. </div>
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Many have written about <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> tour and many
have gone there within the past dozen years. The first written “Sanchara
Sahityam” in Malayalam at the end of the 19<sup>th</sup> century is the tour of
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
written by Late lamented Saint Parumala Mar Gregorios. Since then a few such
books have been published. I have not seen one in English. There are also very
good DVDs on <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
I write in English only because I can type it on the computer leisurely. </div>
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When I started writing, my idea
was only to give a description of what all we saw in the tour. As I proceeded, I found that what I learned
from guides and what I saw is not enough.
Therefore, I read the Bible, internet and books on <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
monuments, archaeological research materials and the book “<st1:place w:st="on">Holy
Land</st1:place>” of Fr. Godfrey OFM. Hence the letter is lengthy than
intended. However, it is worth.<u><o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<b><i>“Personality can open doors, but
only character can keep them open.”<br />
-- Elmer G.
Letterman<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<b><u>1. Why the <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place> Tour<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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I should first explain why I
ventured into this hazardous journey at this not very young age: nay old age. Being
a Christian, <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>, the place where the
historical person Jesus lived and was crucified, is the “<st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city>” of Christianity. Just as Muslims go to
<st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city>, walking
through the very places and streets Jesus traversed, thinking about his
teachings and his extreme sacrifice for humanity, is pilgrimage par excellence
for any Christian. For him Jesus is son of the Triune God Father, son and Holy
Ghost He Incarnated in flesh and lived among us as one of us. Hence re-living
his incarnated life in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
is worshipping God. Walking through the streets of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> like Jesus did on the dusty roads
of Judea 2000 years ago, confirms your faith in Him, His historicity and His
Teachings. In other words, you acquire more faith in God and Christianity.
Seeking God and His ways is what is expected of every Christian. It is the best
method to ensure a better and peaceful life in this World, and after. I think every Christian who can afford the
cost of this tour must do it to lead a better Christian life. It will make him
to believe in the death of Jesus on the Cross- and His resurrection, and
realize the significance of His teaching of the “Universal brotherhood of man
under the fatherhood of God”. Loving everyone as you love yourself is the
essence of His teaching. You should also think of such a pilgrimage some when
in the future to believe and to try to practice His teachings...</div>
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Frailty- weakness- thy name is
man. Even before normal natural calamities and physical phenomena like thunder,
lightning and floods; cyclones, and whirl winds; cold winds and frost; heat
waves and moving sand dunes, man is a frail puny creature. Physical ailments
and old age make him still more small and helpless. My anxiety was ailments due
to my advanced age, prostrate problems and the extreme heat of Persian
countries to which we were flying in. Therefore, we decided that we could
undertake the tour only if our son Alex and Lalitha join us for the tour. When
contacted, they agreed with alacrity and pleasure. That was the greatest
booster of our spirits. In retrospect, now I know that it was only a fear of
the unknown. We both went through the entire tour in perfect health.</div>
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This was my third time dream to
go for <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
pilgrimage. About a dozen years ago, a priest gave us an ad talk in our Senior
Citizens monthly meeting at <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>
on this tour. That kindled in me a desire-not a demand- to go. In Economics,
demand is a term with wider meaning. It is desire for a thing with resources to
spend for it and thirdly readiness to spend the money for the demanded
consumption item. Mine was only a desire
to go to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
It was not backed by the readiness to spend money for that. The fact that some
time later Mr. K E Cherian and wife, our relatives, went and presented us with <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> souvenirs was a
strong persuasion.</div>
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In the second time it was not
merely a dream, but a real demand to go for the tour. But I could not make it.
We four (including Alex and Lalitha) decided to go on May first with Omania
Tours at Cochin and remitted Rs. 40,000/- as registration fee. They insisted
medical insurance for wife and me. That created umpteen worries in getting
medical check-ups and reports from the qualified doctor. Because of our
advanced age, according to them, the insurance company representative imposed
more detailed check-up, a second time. We underwent that too with demur. Just 3
days before we were to report to <st1:state w:st="on">Cochin</st1:state>
for the commencement of the tour Lalitha’s brother-in-law passed away. She and
then Alex had to go for the funeral. The tour was thus got cancelled. A
question you might ask. What happened to the registration fees? It was lost.
They said they made all preparations for us and had spent the amount. </div>
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<b><u>2. Preparations.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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In August 2008, Alex phoned
that Martha Mariam Samajam of the Malankara Orthodox Church is arranging a
pilgrimage to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
on Sep. 15 under the leadership of Rev. Fr. John Sankarathil, its Secretary.
Since it is Ramadan, it is a lean business period for his company and he will
be a little more free than otherwise to go with us. We agreed. This was my
chance to fulfill my dream. Then things happened in a moment. He contacted
immediately Sankarathil Achen and discussed our itinerary to join the tour
party at <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city>.
In two days time he booked our flights to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>,
<st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> and return journey to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>. He requested me to remit US$ 100
each for four of us in Indian rupees to Achen at Kottayam. This amount I
e-mailed to Achen on the next day and we were registered for the tour. Since
Achen knew me from his student days, he was delighted to learn that I am
joining his tour group and said so much to me and others. </div>
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Our itinerary was that we two
were to fly on Air Arabia on 17 August via Sharjah to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>, and
stay with Alex for 30 days. Then the four of us are to fly to <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> via Abu Dabi on Etihad Air lines to
join the tour group. On our return, we are to leave the tour group at <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city> and fly to Sharjah
for a 3 days stay with Alvina. On 26 Sept., we were to return by Air Arabia to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>. Alex booked
all these sector flights up to <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> and from <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>.
There was no insistence on medical insurance. Again, Alex did all arrangements.
He lifted the entire burden including our expenses on to his shoulders. It is
true that I later paid it all back to him. All our anxiety about age, physical
ailments and climate withered into thin air. </div>
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Kunjannamma and I were thence
on our toes getting ready for the journey. Once again, I checked our passports
issued nine years ago, for its validity. It was OK. Photocopies of passports
and our photos were couriered to Sankarathil Achen and e-mailed to Alex to
arrange our visas to the various countries we were to visit. We met our doctor
for prescriptions and medicines for all eventualities including nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, fever and even sleeplessness. </div>
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Since we were to stay for more
than forty days, enough dress was to be carried. My wife as usual wanted to take
all the dress for the three changes she do every day. After much persuasion by Alex
and me over the phone, she agreed to reduce her requirements. Still the volume
was too much that compelled me to purchase a new big bag from the market. I
sold away my old car. It was idle for months together as I was getting old to
maneuver it in the thick traffic of the city. I was loosing touch of my
vehicle. It was becoming a white elephant. My legs rose to the occasion and
pumped all the distances around me. As I am staying in the very center of the
City all the service centers like market, chapel, banks, post office and even all service centers and payment
counters were at the tip of my stretched hands. So clearing all the short
distances proved to be good for my health also. </div>
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We got a caretaker to look
after the house in our absence. Our neighbours, telephone, water and
electricity authorities were all informed about our intended absence. I
installed an extra light for the verandah for the benefit of the watchman. Meanwhile
Alex e-mailed the minimum dress that we are to carry including a woolen sweater
for each. It also contained photocopies of our visa to enter <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region> and instructions about what to expect at
the <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>, Sharjah and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Air</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Ports</st1:placetype></st1:place>. I went to Air
Arabia Office and checked our flight. It was all Okayed. I went to the bank and
collected some US dollars and UAE Dirham for incidental expenses. Both of us
went to our parish priest Rev. Fr. Sam Kanjickal, Fr. Alexander Vaidyan and
Eapen Achen to pray and bless us for safe journey. Thus by 16 August we
finished our tour preparations.</div>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>3. <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city> and other <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Air</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ports</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We had to be at the airport at
00.00 hours for our flight at 03.00 hrs. Since the road from Petta to airport
is solitary and goonda infested, the advice was to pass that area before 09 00
PM. Our night watchman Johnson came at 08.00 hrs. We locked our doors and got
into a taxi at 08.30 with our bags and travel papers. At Eanchakal Junction. I
wore a brave face with inner anxiety and my wife a more masked appearance. When we came to the gates of the
international airport, our face muscles relaxed and we were calm. Johnson, the watchman
lifted the bags to the trolley. We sent the driver and watchman back. At the airport,
they would not allow us to enter their premises so early. I approached the airport
manager through the receptionist woman, and had a telephonic interview with
him. We got permission to go inside on probably, considerations of our aged
appearance reported by the woman.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The long hall into which we
lugged in was empty, lonely and silent, except for an occasional service
man/woman traversing its length. Air conditioning was off. I found out a wall
fan, worked it and sat down for our small talk. Time ticked off until 01.15 AM
when the entrance became live. We moved with our luggage and papers to one of
the slowly becoming alive counters and got our boarding pass to wait again for
checking into the security area. That
happened only at 02.15 AM, Imagine the hours wasted by waiting for the flight.
We came to the airport by 08.50 PM and we could fly only by 03.15 AM.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Sharjah and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Air</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Ports</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Air <st1:place w:st="on">Arabia</st1:place>
flight G9442 took us to Sharjah airport at 05.30 AM. Armed with the copies of entry visa to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region> we found out a counter and got the
boarding pass to the next flight G9103 at 09.00 AM to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>.
Leisurely I went around and purchased from Mac Donald’s a cup of morning coffee
priced UAED 12 (around Rs.144). It was highly concentrated and packets of sugar
stirred in could not reduce the bitterness. We shared it. I also took the
sandwich brought from home. The duration of Sharjah – <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region> flight
was only one hour. Because of the difference in time zones, we left Sharjah at
09.00 hrs and reached <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>
at 09.05 AM. <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>
on the east at that moment was noon 12.35 hrs. We queued out of the plane and
were moving to the security counter where we had to show our original entry
visit visa. We had the copy of it. It was to be exchanged at a special counter
for the original by paying UAED.5 per visa. Suddenly a young man sent by Alex
approached us asking the old woman in sari from behind “Are you Annamma Joseph
from <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>?”
We turned back. He smilingly took us to the nearby counter, gave UAE D.10, and
pointed us the counter to give the visa copies and the money. The clerk took
them and in a moment gave us the original visas. With that, we moved into the
queue to get entry visa punched in our passports. In about ten minutes, we were
moving out of the airport. At the exit, Alex and Lalitha were waiting for us. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The very hot air of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region> struck
us on our face. They whisked us in 2 minutes to the parking slot and his car.
Even within that time, my skin felt the burning sensation. The urge was to
remove the sweater I was wearing. In another two minutes, the air inside the
car became cool and smoothing. He drove us fast to his residence some twenty
minutes away. They took us to his flat. Alex without wasting much time went to
his office. Lalitha served us appam and chicken curry as breakfast. After a few
niceties, we two went into our bedroom for a nap. Thus, we were in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region> on the
FN of 17 August. For the next 30 days our son Alex and daughter-in-law, Lalitha
took us all over the island, pampered, and fed us well with all varieties of
food made at home / available in the food courts and hotels. However, he
persuaded us from not going to any small or local hotels on grounds that food
in such places is too oily and acrid, hot and pungent </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
I have given a fairly detailed
report of the preparations of our journey and anxieties we encountered. In fact, there are three distinct laps in our
journey. First, we went to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>
for a 30 days stay with Alex. The second was the Holy Land tour of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>,
<st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>. The third sector of our
visit was to Sharjah and <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>
in UAE (Unites Arab Emirates). I am trying to give a brief sketch of our tour
of <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place> and, what struck us as worth
noting from my point of view. Now you can enter any search engine on the
internet and get more or any information about any thing or any country in the
World. So, you too can read more detailed history or writings on any feature
that I mention in this letter to you. But, you would not get my view of them. That
you can get only from this letter. It is thus a personal report about what I
saw in the tour. It is written for reading by people like you</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>4. Thirty days in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
You might be wondering as to
what we were doing all the 30 days. I myself was musing over it when Alex
suggested to us about it a month before we went. Well, we fell into a routine
to which we soon escalated. Alex used to
leave for the office at 08.30 AM after breakfast. In full suit and with an
executive bag, he gets into his car. His lunch pack was dry chappathi and
chicken. He returns only after 05.00 PM. Most days Lalitha and Kunjannamma
would skip the breakfast for self-imposed fasts. So, I had to take it alone. In the FN, I used
to spend time by reading Manorama and Gulf News, an English daily, and my
internet mails. There was Google chat / talk with Alvina and Alna, and my blogs
on the internet. After lunch, we would go for a catnap. Chocolates, cookies and
exotic dates stored on top of the cupboard used to enliven our taste buds.
Alex, on return from the office will have a bite or two on any of them. After a
few exchanges, he will change into casuals and is ready for the evening drive
to show us <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>.
We went out all the days except one, when he was indisposed and felt feverish.
He drove us in different directions on each day, explaining the sights and
buildings on the route. Malls and eateries or food courts were there in our
daily itinerary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Getting ready
for <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place> Tour. <o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On Sept.14<sup>th</sup> Sunday evening,
we went to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place> service. We had
our absolution and Holy Communion. We thanked God profusely for keeping us in good
health all the 29 days in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>.
We also prayed for protection in our <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place>
tour days lying ahead. We purchased some dress as souvenir presents to you all
in <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>. However,
we limited the purchases in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>
because we have to carry them in our luggage all through the 8 days of the
tour. So, we postponed our further purchases hoping to do so at <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city> on the final lap of
our journey. On 15<sup>th</sup>, once again we reviewed our luggage that
nothing is left behind. Our flight from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>
to <st1:city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:city> is
at 3 AM and so had to report at 00.00 hours to the airport. We locked up the
flat and were on the car with all the luggage of the four of us in the dickey
and in the laps of us. Alex was to leave
the car in the airport to be taken back by the company driver. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We went through some anxious
moments in the morning hours of 15<sup>th</sup>. Alex discovered that his
identity card called “Akkama” is not in his wallet. He thought that he
misplaced it on the bank counter on previous day when he went to purchase US $
for the journey. So, he went to the bank. But it was not anywhere there. On
this information, Lalitha ransacked his belongings at home. The card was still
out of sight. Without the card, he cannot go out of the country or for the
tour. Therefore, he went to the office to report the matter to the Boss to
manage a duplicate, which is rather impossibility in eight hours. On reaching
the office his driver brought the card, saying that he found it in the car when
he was sent on an errant given by Alex and failed to inform him yesterday
itself. This news relieved us all. God visibly stepped in to protect us. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We are nearing the date for our
pilgrimage starting on 16 Sept. The anxiety was that we have not received visa
for Kunjannamma and I to visit Sharjah and UAE on our return from <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We had planned a trip to UAE for 3 days. Alex
and we were made to understand that the practice was to issue the transit visa
at the airport. Due to terrorist outbursts the UAE, authorities changed that
system in Sept. beginning. Alex was in regular touch with Raphael, his
son-in-law in Sharjah. After several approaches, Raphael was made to apply for
our visa in the usual way. The application was to go to the ministry to get
their permission. We even thought of the possibility of not getting out of the
airport and wait for the next flight to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>
on the next day. Raphael was knocking at the doors. Finally, four days before our arrival in
Sharjah we were informed on the phone that the ministry has agreed to issue
special sanction, as we are transit passengers holding ticket to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>. We were not
sure until we got it at the Sharjah airport on 23 Sept. Thus, the anxiety
continued till we were allowed to go out of the Sharjah airport to the
residence of Raphael. Because the luggage of four of us on our way to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city> was weighty
and large, Booby brother-in-law of Raphael also came to drop us in Raphael’s
flat.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>5. <st1:place w:st="on">Holy
Land</st1:place> Tour<u><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Because of “globality”, fast
transport and internet connectivity, now any can sit before his computer and
see, talk and transact any trade or commerce with anyone in the World. In early
history, caravans and goods moved out over land and sea for trade and commerce. Israel- Canaan- the country of Jews (later
called <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>)
in those days was on the main road of such movements. Its area is around 20770
Sq.Kms It lies between Europe, Asia and <st1:place w:st="on">Africa</st1:place>.
So, all mighty hoards. Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Syrians,
Romans and Arabs (in 639 AD) successively captured and owned it. During the
Crusades, the European Christians attacked it many times (from 1099-1270 AD) to
recapture it. It went again into Arabian hands and later to Turks. In 1917, it
became a British protectorate. At the end of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Second World</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">War</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Israel</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>
was created for the Jews of the World to return to their ancestral home to wait
for the coming of their Jehovah (God). </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
UNO at the end of W. War <sup>2nd</sup>
divided <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city> into two states of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>.
Arabs rejected the proposal. The conflict between the two is the result of the
ancestral and wider Zionist and Arab populations—progenies respectively of
Isaac son of Abraham born to Sara and Ishmael born to the slave Hagar. God said
to Hagar that her son “Would be against everyone and everyone would be against
him”. (Gen.16:12) Anyway, Jews all over the World soon migrated to this <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, their
original homeland. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Sea of Galilee and such other
areas in northeast was under the control of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>. In the 1967 battle, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> drove <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> from these places and
occupied those areas. The Palestinian Arabs of today got back from Israel
through little skirmishes and finally
negotiation, the Gaza strip on the Mediterranean Sea coast and the West
bank on the Jordan boarder in the north. After the death of their leader
Arafat, HAMAS a resistance group got control of Palestinian parliament. They
dominate the Gaza strip area while the late Arafat’s FATAH dominate the
Palestinian West Bank area The HAMAS foment problems for Israel with drastic
Israeli reactions. This is the nature of the present unrest in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. Series
of international negotiations, conferences and peace proposals to reconcile
them continue.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
is on the southeastern coast of the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean Sea</st1:place>.
Its climate is temperate in the north and hot and dry in the South. Population
is estimated to be 7.2 million. They are a very advanced and developed society
with longevity over 80 years. Literacy is over 92 %. 76 percent of the
population is Jews. Muslims account for another 16%. The rest are a few
Christians of all denominations and about 3 % non-definable (Wikipedia). In 1950,
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> was made the capital of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
..</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>6. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> is the center of early
Christianity. Our tour was mainly to this Christian center. Hence, it is worth
knowing about the place and its early history. The city was founded by King
David on the top of Moreah, <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>, Bassetha and
Akra Hills in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region>.
It has a history of 4000 years. Its famous <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> temple was built on Mt.Moreah by
his son King Solomon (970-931 BC). He took 20 years to build it. (1 Kings.
9:10) The temple was completed and officially consecrated in 946 BC. It was
reputed for its magnificence and munificence in the use of metals including
gold and all valuable stones and wood. No wonder it was attacked 50 times and
plundered; was demolished 17 times and re built 18 times. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The center of ancient Judaism
was <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>. Babylonians
destroyed the first temple built by Solomon in 587 BC. On the return of Jews
from captivity, they started re-construction of the temple on its old ruins.
After a break, they completed it in 515 BC. This second temple was renovated by
the Roman Governor Herod to please the Jews. He did it very magnificently in 20
BC... Jesus on his way to <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place>,
foreseeing its imminent destruction lamented.
Romans and particularly Hadrian completely destroyed the temple and the
city in 70 AD Emperor Constantine and his mother Helena reinvented <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> in the fourth
Century (around 325 AD) and started the age of Byzantine Christianity. They
built a number of churches and monuments in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> as memorabilia of Jesus’ mission in
this World. The Muslim onslaught of 636 AD once again destroyed <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and its
churches. The European Crusaders
re-established Christian supremacy in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
to be suppressed again by the Turks in 1517 AD. It continued under Muslim rule
till 1917, when <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
was made a British Protectorate.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> is Holy to Jews, Christians and
Muslims. All the three groups come here
to worship. Today the only remnants of the old temple built on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Moreah</st1:placename></st1:place>
by Solomon are the Wailing Wall.
Hundreds of Jews come every day to mourn over the loss of their temple
and to strike their head on the wall and pray.
A more reasonable interpretation is that the Jews gather at the Wailing
Wall for the thanks giving prayer for being able to come back in 1947 to their
original home. It is holy to Christians, because Christ was crucified here. For
Muslims Jerusalem is holy: Mohammed went to heaven on his winged steed from the
rock on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Moreah</st1:placename></st1:place>. This rock is also believed to be
the place where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac The magnificent
mosque El-Aksa is built with this rock inside. The golden “Dome of Rock” mosque
is the most significant landmark of modern <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Judaism, Christianity and Islam
are monotheist religions claiming descend from Abraham and his God. However, their Gods are different. According
to some Talmudic traditions of Jews, Jesus is the son of a prostitute. For Islam
he is only a simple prophet. But, for Christians, he is the triune God: the
father, Son and Holy Ghost who came to the World and was crucified. He is to
have a terrible second coming for which we all wait. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Our itinerary of the Holy Land
tour was from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>
and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>.
Some other tourists start their tour in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
and end it in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>.
Thus, we started the journey on the route taken by Moses in the exodus of
Israelites from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Mesopotamia and Babylonia in
central Asia between the Tigris and <st1:place w:st="on">Euphrates</st1:place>
rivers was the cradle of the early civilizations. Now this area is <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>. Garden of
Eden (Geneses 2: 10-14), <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Babel</st1:placename> (Gen. 11: 1-4), the building of Noah’s <st1:state w:st="on">Ark</st1:state> (Gen. 6: 13-22) were all in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>. Abraham came from <st1:city w:st="on">Ur</st1:city>
in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region> (Gen.15:7) to Canaan
(modern <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>)
around 1900 BC. It was his grandson Jacob’s descendants who were enslaved in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>. The
Exodus in the Bible is the story of the retrieval of Israelites (Jacob’s
descendants) from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>
by God. Moses and his brother Aaron lead them from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>
in 1250 BC in the 40 years journey through the Sinai desert to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We four, I, Kujannamma, Alex
and Lalitha landed in <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city>, the capital of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> on 16<sup>th</sup>
Sept. noon by the Etihad Air lines. The agents of the Keli Tour operators
received us. Soon we found out that Alex lost his bag in transit, most probably
at <st1:city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:city> airport...
Four of his pants—pieces of his suits--, mobile phone, chargers of movie and
still camera were all lost. Luckily, his wallet, passport, etc was in his
pocket. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
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Airport-waiting for the tour group</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
He ran around to register his complaints while we three
waited in the airport anxiously for over an hour. The rest of the tour party of 47 arrived from
<st1:state w:st="on">Cochin</st1:state> via <st1:city w:st="on">Muscat</st1:city>. KELI tours of Cherian Kuriakose,
Mumbai and Rev. Fr. John Sankarathil, Devalokam Aramana, Secretary Marthamariam
Samajam of our Church were the tour conductors. Including them, our group
consisted of seven priests, two nuns, fifteen couples, eight women, and four
men</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
. We all got into a chartered
coach and traveled through the <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> city roads
along the banks of the river <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place>. <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place> is the longest river on earth, very wide and deep;
navigable for big barges loaded with commercial goods. We saw not only barges
and boats, but also very fertile riverbank all along. Dates and even plantains
stooping heavily with fruits, and plants and trees lined our way. </div>
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<b><u>7. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Cairo</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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<st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> is a vast country. Most of it
is uninhabitable. They get less than two inches of rainfall per year. The Egyptian
civilization developed around 5000 BC along the 4000 long <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nile</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
The Pharaohs and their animal gods and later sun god gave the basis for their
civilization. They strongly believed in life after death and used to preserve
the dead man’s mortal remains and his wares in life, for use in the life after
death. The pyramids were such storehouses.
The banks and delta areas of <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place> are
very fertile. So, agriculture, fishing and river transport of men and materials
comprise their main economic activity. They developed cuneiform writing on
papyrus (paper) -- called hieroglyphics. Now, political leaders rule the
country. After Gamal Abdul Nasser, Anwar-al Sadat and now since 1981, Muhammad
Hosni Mubarak is the ruler of the country.</div>
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<b><u>Coptic Church.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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First, we went to St.Mary’s
church MAADI. This is built on the site
where the Holy family; Jesus, Mary and Joseph, first stayed a few days before
going further on the boat to south of Egypt. They were fleeing from <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city> and King Herod,
on instructions of the Angel. Herod had ordered the massacre of all children below
two years. Inside the church there is an
old well covered with an iron mesh. It is supposed to be the well from which
the holy family quenched their thirst. The church is on the bank of the <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place>. Just in front of the church and to its right, very
much on the riverbank is a shrine, where an open holy Bible is kept in a glass
case. The tell-tales of water soaking is evident on the showpiece. The story is
that the Bible was found floating on that spot in the river in 1976. A shrine and altar is built on that place. In
these two churches candles and incense burn. Some of us went down a few steps
to get their hands or feet wet with the <st1:place w:st="on">Nile</st1:place>
water. </div>
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The Holy family stayed in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> for two
years until the death of Herod. After that, they returned to <st1:city w:st="on">Nazareth</st1:city>
in Galilee, away from <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
and vicinity of Herod’s successor... Jesus grew up in <st1:city w:st="on">Nazareth</st1:city> as the son of carpenter Joseph. His
public life started in <st1:city w:st="on">Capernaum</st1:city> and places near
<st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>.</div>
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The next site we visited was
the shrine of St. Mark, the author of second Gospel. He was executed by Romans in <st1:city w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:city>. The holy relics are now entombed
in this shrine. We prayed at his sepulcher. He was the originator of the Coptic
(Egyptian) Church. Oriental Orthodox Churches with which Malankara Indian
Orthodox Church has Holy Communion are: Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian, Eritrean
and Syrian (Antiochan) Church. The supreme head of the Coptic Church is Pope
Shenuda III. His cathedral church is very near. It is a magnificent building.
We went in. It was being renovated. Pope was out of station. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Tomb of St. Mark in the shrine<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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We could not meet His Holiness
and pay our respects. From there we were to go to the Hotel Delta Pyramid for
night rest. </div>
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When we were boarding the bus a
very fat Egyptian woman in her forties accosted Alex with a folded palm
“namasthe” and pleaded by gestures to take her photo with our V. Rev. Remban
Gabriel. Alex agreed and had to call him back from the bus. Probably because of
the Masnapsa (special head cover) he was wearing, she perhaps presumed that
Rembachan is a bishop from <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>
and desired a photo with him. She seemed extremely happy when a couple of
photos were taken, and thanked Alex profusely.</div>
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On our way back to the city we
noted that most of the buildings were unfinished and with unplastered walls.
The city corporation levy property tax only on buildings after its completion. Therefore,
owners keep it outwardly unfinished to escape the tax. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> is not a rich country. We
were warned that Egyptian pipe water is not potable and we should use only
bottled mineral water. It is costly. One 1.5-liter bottle cost US $ 3. We
rested at the Hotel for the night. It is
a three or four-star hotel. They gave us a buffet dinner of rice, meat, fish
and many other palatable and not so, items. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>8. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Giza</st1:place></st1:city>
Pyramids.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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On 17, we were to be ready at
6.30 Am for breakfast and to bus by seven Am. Elders like me in the party were
awakened by phone bell in the room. We all came down on time for breakfast.
Bread, eggs, and a number of sweet and sour items, tea / coffee were the buffet
menu. We had it quickly and entered our bus. We three had heavier luggage
because we were on our way to Kerala and Alex was to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region>. Wheeling them out of the
bus to lifts and our rooms and back again to the bus in the next morning was a
task. With our little help, Alex did it for us. Thanks to God for him.</div>
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We were warned that we will be
making a 6 ½ hour-long journey by bus through the Egyptian Sinai desert and that
the bus will not stop for rest or for easing us. So, we were to take as little
water as possible in the morning and to carry mineral water for use on the way.
After ascertaining that all our things are in the bus, we started at 7.45 Am to
the <st1:place w:st="on">Red sea</st1:place> coast. The Egyptian guide who
joined us the previous day and the bus driver comprised the 53 of us in the
bus. While we were going through the
streets of Cairo Fr. Sankarathil led us in the Morning Prayer. We also sang a
few Christian songs, making the tour really a pilgrimage of the faithful.</div>
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Our coach stopped at <st1:city w:st="on">Giza</st1:city> pyramids on the outskirts of the <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city> city. It was 9.25 Am and the hot sun
was blazing on us. . In my College days, I was a student of Ancient History:
particularly of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region> and <st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city>. Hence, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nile</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">River
Basin</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Giza Pyramids and Sphinx were all familiar
to me. I had read extensively about the Roman-Egyptian wars, Cleopatra and the
earlier Pharaohs who constructed these pyramids. Seeing them was reliving my
studies. I had brought two senior citizens P-cap. For our women, Alex purchased
despite their protests, two costly plastic net caps from the vendors. But Lalitha
and my wife refused to wear it. They covered their head with sari ends. Thus,
the hats turned out to be inconvenient item in our luggage</div>
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<br /></div>
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There were a few other tourists
coaches unloading the passengers. We wanted to be the earliest to avoid the
crowd. We were in front of the three
biggest of the 80 and odd pyramids so far discovered. Pyramids are funeral
chambers. Egyptians believed in life after death. Those who had money, used to
arrange for embalming their corpses and preserve them in chambers, along with
articles used by them for future use. Mummified corpses of their chief aids
also used to be entombed with the master’s Mummy. The process of embalming a
corpse is explained in the “History of Herodotus” Vol. I.Bk 2. <st1:place w:st="on">Para</st1:place> 86. (Written around 460 BC) translated by George
Rawlinson, 2 Volumes, Herodotus toured in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> and gathered as much
information as possible to write this part of the history. On <st1:place w:st="on">Para</st1:place>
124-133 he also describes the method adopted for the construction of the
pyramids of Cheops (Khufu), Chephren and Mycerinus. They were constructed
around 2600 BC. Around there were a number of basements and remnants of smaller
pyramids of lesser chieftains. </div>
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Cheops pyramid</div>
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<br /></div>
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Cheops pyramid is the biggest
occupying 13 acres of land, 450 ft high and using 3 million stone blocks, each
weighing about 2.5 tons. Herodotus says that they used some kind of a machine
made from wooden planks for lifting these blocks. Our guide said of a different
method. After the first ground layer of stones, mud banks were built around to
haul the stones to the next higher level. This was repeated till the top was
reached. It took 20 years to construct and another 10 years to scrape off the
mud bank crust. The middle pyramid of the son of the emperor is small compared
to the third one. The coffins containing mummies and other articles were in the
inner chamber at the center of the pyramid. I am leaving out other stories
about pyramids given in Herodotus. </div>
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Our leaders allowed us enough
time to go up the stairs to the door to the inner chamber of the big
pyramid. As we had less time, none of us
was allowed to enter the inner chamber. </div>
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Entrance to inside
of the pyramid</div>
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<br /></div>
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People are allowed to enter the
chamber of the second small pyramid on payment of an entrance fee of US $5 per
head. Now there is nothing to be seen inside. It is all empty. Thieves have
ransacked all the valuables centuries ago. The mummies have also gone into the
museums in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region> and other places.</div>
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Sphinx is a statue on a
pedestal with a human face and the body of a lion in resting position. This
also is a massive structure. Most of us took photos: still and movie, with
these pyramids and Sphinx in the background. A photographer came and arranged
all of us into a group with the pyramids and the Sphinx in the background for a
photo. Those who wanted copies for US $ 4 per copy gave their names. These
copies were given later when we were in the herbal perfume shop. We had taken a
number of photos and movie pictures of all pyramids and Sphinx. Yet I purchased
two copies—one for Alex. </div>
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As instructed by our leaders,
we boarded the bus at 10 Am for our next destination, <st1:place w:st="on">Suez
Canal</st1:place>. The Egyptian tour guide told us that we are about to go
through a long tunnel road under the <st1:place w:st="on">Suez Canal</st1:place>.
If we are lucky, we may see ships crossing the <st1:place w:st="on">Suez Canal</st1:place>
just before we enter the tunnel. We were all looking with outstretched necks
like cranes to see the ship. None came to our view. We continued our eastward
journey.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>9. <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> Crossing.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
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Our next destination was the
Nuwebia Village Resort in the Gulf of Aqaba in the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place>.
The bus was cruising towards the east on more or less straight road through the
desert. Both sides it was arid land of ash like top soil. It reminded the moon surface shown on TV. </div>
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By about 11.30 Am we reached an
herbal shop for a stopover. They seated us in a small hall and gave us a
welcome drink of grape juice. Then a sales man around forty in age started
explaining the medicinal value and use of each of the perfume. Meanwhile
another attendant smeared each perfume on the hands of each of us to smell it.
This went on for an hour because they had 15 or 20 varieties of perfumes for
sale. One of it, he explained as midnight perfume. He also told us where to
smear it- the shoulders / mountains, the thighs and the fifth spot being
between the thighs for women and on the machine-gun for men. The smuttiness of
his description made us laugh. Anyway, he was able to sell a good number of
small perfume bottles to us. Alex also purchased a few bottles worth US $ 130
for all his relatives. </div>
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From the shop, we walked up to
a nearby hotel for lunch. Around 2 Pm, we were back in the bus. Though it was
very hot outside, air-conditioning everywhere, except the open public road,
saved us from the heat. </div>
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Further, on our tour, we
stopped again at a wayside shanty for our evening <st1:city w:st="on">Tiffin</st1:city>. We brought <st1:city w:st="on">Tiffin</st1:city> packets on the bus. They gave us
seating space and demanded in return purchase of soft drinks or mineral water.
Most of us obliged. Our packets contained chicken fry; potato filled bonda
balls, two unusually large ripe dates, and guava or pear fruit. It was too
heavy for my stomach to do justice to the contents. In another 30 minutes, we
continued our eastward journey on bus. </div>
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Red Sea has two gulfs jutting
into the Eastern desert in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>:
Gulf of Suez and <st1:place w:st="on">Gulf of Aqaba</st1:place>. In between the
two Gulfs is the Sinai wilderness—an extension of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sinai</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
We were going through this hinterland. The left of the road we were going was
the Egyptian Eastern desert continuing into Sinai. On the right there is the
Sinai little hills. It was an eight hours journey with two stopovers at herbal
shop and tiffin break.</div>
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All the way through from Suez
Canal to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype></st1:place>, the road appeared reddish in the
sun with apparently life less soil on either side. Nearing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
we sighted greenery, plants, and trees. We now entered the town of <st1:city w:st="on">Nuweiba</st1:city>. Our aim was to
reach the Nuweiba Village Resort in South Sinai, in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> early enough for a dip in the
Sea. It is a beautiful expansive village resort on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype></st1:place>
front, with gardens of well-maintained shrubs and trees. We reached the resort
only at 7.30 Pm. So, our plans to have sea bath at this point on the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> could not materialize. Nevertheless, me and few
of us rolled up our pants and entered for a couple of feet into the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place>, until we were in calf deep water. For me the
division of water into two walls and its closing on the Egyptian army to
destroy them was a real happening. So getting into the <st1:place w:st="on">Red
Sea</st1:place> at this point was very significant for me. The resort had
boats and diving gear for those who wanted. But, we had no time for such
pleasure.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<st1:placename w:st="on">Nuweiba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Village</st1:placetype>
Resort on <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The name <st1:place w:st="on">Red
Sea</st1:place> comes from the red colored corals in the sea. Even from the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype></st1:place>
shore, we could observe the red tinge of the Sea. The main part of the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> is further down south in the map.</div>
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In Bible Exo. 13, the Red Sea
crossing of Israelites happened in the <st1:city w:st="on">Suez</st1:city>
marshy place. It is also presumed to have happened at the Nuweiba beach on the <st1:place w:st="on">Gulf of Aqaba</st1:place>. A third opinion is that crossing was on <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place>: but where? I am inclined to believe Ron Wyatt,
the archaeologist that it happened at the Nuweiba beach: exactly at the
location of the Resort where we were staying. </div>
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The Aqaba <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">gulf</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:placename></st1:place>
is very shallow at the Nuweiba point. It
is also slightly narrow—less wide—at this point. It is here that Moses crossed
the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place> in 1210 BC with his Israelite
hoard of 2 to 3 million people. The opposite side of the beach in Aqaba gulf
(north end) is partly in Jordan and the rest in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:country-region>. Moses and his people
after crossing the Sea went into the Sinai desert in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:country-region>. They camped there in
the foothills of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sinai</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Ron Wyatt
asserts that it is here that God appeared to Moses and gave the Ten
Commandments... The Catherine Monastery at the foot of the small mountain and a
thorny bush there is pointed out as the place of God’s appearance to Moses. The
Biblical Median and <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Sinai</st1:placename> are in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>. We could not go to either of
these locations</div>
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There are people who question
this miracle of water moving to either side to form a wall to open a Dry Land
Bridge for Israelites to cross the sea. Moses had miraculous powers from God.
(Exo. 4: 3- 5). We know how difficult it is to keep a few people under one’s
command. Moses exhibited his miracle powers given by God a few times to keep
the 2 million within his ranks. The Israelites were fleeing from the chasing
Egyptian Emperor’s army. God devised this scheme to destroy the entire Egyptian
army by drowning them in the <st1:place w:st="on">Red Sea</st1:place>. When all
the Israelites crossed over to the other side, Moses stretched his hand over
the Sea. The water wall closed on the
chasing Egyptian army. Men, horses and chariots were all drowned. The very high
water walls on either side of the land bridge under the sea miraculously fell
on the Egyptian army drowning and burying them in deep waters of Aqaba Gulf of
Red Sea. (Exo.14:26-29) </div>
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With archaeological and
documentary evidences Ron Wyatt, proves that the crossing took place at the
Nuweiba beach. With sonar depth measurements, Ron Wyatt shows the land bridge
under the Sea. He went to this spot in 1978 and 1984, conducted scuba diving to
the Sea bottom, and took photos of wheels of the Egyptian chariots and bones of
drowned army men. (Ron Wyatt- Moses
& the Red Sea Crossing Truth or Fiction- a power point presentation—Source
Internet) With hundreds of evidences, he also states that Bible is “one of the
most accurate books in the World”.</div>
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Israelites took 40 years in
their “Exodus” to travel from Ramese (<st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city>) to
Canaan (<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>).
We covered the distance in 32 hours on bus from 10 Am on 17<sup>th</sup> to 6
Pm on 18<sup>th</sup>. We had enough rest on the way and an overnight stay in
Nuweiba Resort. They were on foot and had little idea about the destination.
The map below shows the route we took from <st1:city w:st="on">Cairo</st1:city>
through the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Sinai</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Desert</st1:placetype></st1:place>. The line of
arrows marks it.</div>
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<b><u>Tour route</u>- From Cairo-through Sinai desert-to Suez Canal –to <st1:placename w:st="on">Nuweiba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Beach-</st1:placetype>
to Taba boarder of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel-</st1:country-region>
to Eilat town -to Dead Sea- to Jerusalem Town-to <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>-to
Tel Aviv- to <st1:city w:st="on">Haifa-</st1:city> to <st1:placetype w:st="on">MT.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Carmel-</st1:placename> to <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of
Galilee-</st1:place> toMt. Nebo- to Jordan Boarder.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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At Nuweiba, each pair of us was
given a cottage in the village resort for stay. The attendants wheeled our
luggage to our respective cottages. I got cottage 311 and Alex 312. It was
fully furnished to four-star facilities. We were asked to be in the dining hall
before they close at 8 Pm. So we postponed our bath and washing to a
post-dinner time. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
After a good sleep, Alex and me
packed our things and waited for the attendants to take our boxes to the bus in
front of the Resort. When they took the boxes and left, we locked our cottages
and moved through the gardens to the dining hall on the sea front. It was only 6.30 Am and the sun was blazing
hot from the eastern horizon. Alex took a number of photos of the gardens and
sea front. Two pleasure boats and a fishing boat were seen at a distance. The
gentle morning breeze was lovingly caressing the Sea to wake it up from the
night sleep. Small wave like movements on the Sea surface was the sign of
awakening sea. A couple of priests and two nuns among us entered the sea to wet
their feet by the lapping ripples of the partially awoken <st1:place w:st="on">Red
Sea</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
At 7 Am, the dining hall
opened. The buffet breakfast menu were too many including four or five sweets
and cakes, cookies, fruits including pears, figs and very ripe black giant size
dates, kebabs, steak, eggs, soft drinks,
coffee, tea and so on. We went after breakfast to the bus just in time and gave
back our room keys to the receptionist. Suddenly Alex noticed that I was not
having my walking stick. He took back
the key, and rushed to the room. He returned with the walking stick.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>10. Crossing the Taba Border.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We started at 7.45 Am for a one-hour
drive northward to the Taba Boarder of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>
to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>.
On our right side of the road was the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype></st1:place>
and left, the Sinai desert. At Taba, we were to leave the Egyptian bus and
guide for new ones on the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
side. We lugged our bags to the emigration counter of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> and then to the security check and
immigration counter of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>.
It was 200 yards away and the checking was meticulous. We waited in queue for
our turn. Lalitha’s passport and photo were old, much used and full of entries
due to her regular travels. The officers conferred with superiors and finally
got convinced. She was then permitted to go forward.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
There were three immigration
counters, one for Israelites only. The checking was slow at the two
counters. Therefore, Kunjannamma and I
went to the vacant counter. Disregarding us, the girl officer took the papers
from one who came after us and processed it. Was I a bit irritated? The officer
then took our passports and papers and remarked that it is a counter for
Israelites only. Yet she punched our papers and permitted us to go into her
country. The special counter was only for the speedy disposal of incoming
Israelites. We had instructions to request to the officers at the counter not
to punch our passports. Instead, they were to issue a punched special slip with
our name and passport number. The officers at the counter also had instructions
to put the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
entry stamp only on the slip and not on the passport. The enmity between the
Jews and Arabs is such that if by mistake <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> stamps a passport, that
passport holder cannot get in into any Arab country. Our tour itinerary
included <st1:placename w:st="on">Arab</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">States</st1:placetype>,
<st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>. We were to preserve that
punched slip—our passport to get out of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. One by one, we checked into
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and went with our
luggage to the other side where the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> bus was waiting for us.</div>
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<u><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b> <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> is like a cone. It is narrow
at the South end and wide on the North at the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean
Sea</st1:place> coast. In South West, it has <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>,
in the west <st1:city w:st="on">Mediterranean Sea</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region>
in the north and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
in the east as its boundaries. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
is 350 Km from north to south and only 50 to 80 Km from west to east. The <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean Sea</st1:place> coast gives it access to sea trade. The
hinterland is hilly desert in the south and highly fertile low-lying lands in
the north. The eastern side of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
is a rift valley formed by geological movements of earth plates in the long
past. Judea is in the south of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
and Canaan and <st1:place w:st="on">Galilee</st1:place> in the north. The south
end of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> is on the
north tip of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype></st1:place>. We entered <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and into the port city of <st1:city w:st="on">Eilat</st1:city>. An important
business of Eilat is imports of all brands of motor vehicles manufactured in
East, including <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> and
export them to <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>. The city is prosperous
and has an airport and a busy Seaport.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Eastern Israel from Eilat up to
Syrian boarder in the north is in the rift valley and lies far below the sea
level The Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee and river <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> are along this valley. <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> is 411 meters below the sea level. The south
west of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
is the Hanegeve desert. From King Solomon’s days, copper was mined from this
area. Movement of caravans from <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on">Alexandria</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> was through this desert. Well-developed
cities and towns like <st1:city w:st="on">Memphis</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Beersheba</st1:city> came up
wherever wells and water were available. Remnants of these ruined cities are
seen in the archaeological excavation sites.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism" title="Zionism">Zionism</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Jews are not only intelligent,
but also very industrious. Many of the University professors and scientists of <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region> and other
developed countries are Jews. Most of the financial institutions of the Western
World are owned / controlled by Jews. The migrant Jews who came in after the
formation of the <st1:placename w:st="on">Israel</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> in 1947 made the deserts of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> into
good arable lands and gardens. From the Bible they identified the trees that
were grown in different parts of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
and are now replanting them to make <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> green. Similarly, the wells
of Biblical times are also being dug out to water <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. Before 1948, there were
only a few Jewish families in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Haifa</st1:city> and Tel Aviv towns in <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>. The migrant Jews who came in since
then were housed in community homes called Kibbutz. They adopted sprinkle
irrigation and green house cultivation to make intensive use of all possibly
arable land around their Kibbutz. Now they have converted all these lands into
fertile areas and made themselves prosperous. Kibbutz is communal living that
combines <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialism" title="Socialism">socialism</a>
and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism" title="Zionism">Zionism</a>.
It started as plantation communities owning everything in common. Later they entered into industrial endeavors.
In course of time individualism cropped in to the decline of Kibbutzim. Some of
them encourage tourism. We went on our route to two Kibbutz’s' common dining
hall for food. </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Green Houses<span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We saw on our way to the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>, Green houses covered with plastic roofs,
cultivating all kinds of fruits, vegetables and flowers in controlled humidity
and temperature. Their sprinkle irrigation to economize water is now copied by dry
land cultivators everywhere. It is said that they grow and export fruits and
vegetables demanded by the Europeans in seasons when European climate do not
allow cultivating them. Extensive date palms, banana and olive farms were seen
in the rift valley on the right side. The left side was barren hill country.
The hills near the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> are salty
containing a variety of salts and minerals. The very rare rains wash down the
outer crusts of the salt hills and drain it to the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place> to make it more and more salty.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hebron</span></u></st1:place></st1:city><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were traveling from south to
north along the western shore of the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>.
Abraham came from <st1:city w:st="on">Ur</st1:city> in Babylonia to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. Because of too many sheep to graze, Abraham and <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place>, his nephew decided to separate. Lot preferred the very fertile <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> valley and Abraham went to <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city> hills in the west.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>
is called the city of <st1:city w:st="on">Abraham</st1:city>.
He built an altar here for God near the sacred trees of Mamre (Gen. 13:18).
After his meanderings with his flock, he returned to this place. His wife Sara died. Abraham purchased the
Machpelah cave from Ephron the Hittite and buried her. Later Abraham, Isaac, his wife Rebecca, and
Jacob and his wife Leah were buried near this place. A legend is that Adam and
Eve coming out of <st1:city w:st="on">Eden</st1:city> (in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region>) was
buried here. It is a holy place for Jews. David was installed as king at this
place. For the first 7.1/2 years, he ruled with <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city> as his capital. Then he captured the
northern areas and made <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
his Capital city. <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city> is 35 Km south of the
modern <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>11. <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and The <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place><o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The fertile <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> <st1:placetype w:st="on">valley</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Sid</st1:placename> dim and <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city>
selected by Lot were full of tar pits (Gen.14: 8). In due course, the
sinfulness of <st1:city w:st="on">Sodom</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Gomorrah</st1:city> forced God to destroy them by a rain
of burning sulphur. Everything was destroyed. (It became the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place>.) <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place> and his family were
spared. They were asked to run for life to the western hills and not to look
back. (Gen.19:12-21). <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place>’s
wife looked back at what she had to forgo and was turned into a pillar of salt.
(Gen. 19:26). Our bus stopped for a couple of minutes for us to see a solitary
salt pillar among the hills on our left side of the road. It is said to be <st1:place w:st="on">Lot</st1:place>’s wife. </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Ein Gedi.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We also passed Ein Gedi—an
Oasis on the western shore of the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> in
the Old Testament times. Ein Gedi is between <st1:city w:st="on">Hebron</st1:city>
hills and the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. The <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place> has receded eastward due to evaporation and has become more
salty. New modern roads have now come up further down near the Seashore. So,
the towns and cities of old times are now on the left side of the new road and
away from the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. Near the road on the left,
there are many small salt hills. Further left in the interior there were little
rocky mountains, caves and hot and fresh water springs. During rains fresh rain
water gush down, as a spread out river, to the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>.
Even now, tourists may face such roadblocks of rushing water. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
David hid fleeing from King
Saul’s wrath in the hill caves in Ein Gedi (1 Samuel. 23:14). David instead of
cutting off Saul’s head cut off a piece of his coat while he was easing in a
cave (1. Samuel. 24:4) He did this to prove to Saul that he (David) is not an
enemy, but a friend of Saul. King Saul thus reconciled to David. (Ibid. 24:
7-22). After Saul’s death David became king of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region> (1010-970 BC)</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>.Masada. <o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Another area we passed on our
route was <st1:place w:st="on">Masada</st1:place>. Guide told us the story of this Desert
fortress overlooking <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. On the eastern side,
it is a steep rocky fall of 450 meters to the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>.
Hearing the harrowing story, I looked up the internet for more and correct
information. King Herod constructed this fortress during 37 to 31 AD to protect
himself from Jews. The only written account of this incident is of Josephus
Flavius, a Roman Governor at that time in <st1:place w:st="on">Galilee</st1:place>.
In 66 AD, there was Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Romans routed the
Jews. So some Zealots ran into the fortress and stay put there. They stocked enough food, water and other
supplies. Then they raided <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
and harassed Romans. Therefore, Flavius Silva the Roman Governor marched with a
large army and made a siege of the fortress. 930 including children under the
leadership of Eleazar realized their plight and decided to kill themselves than
be killed by Romans. Ten of them were chosen to kill all others and to commit suicide.
Two women and a child hid in a cave and survived the massacre. Josephus got the
narration from them. Archaeologists have dug up the beautiful hill palace,
rooms and storehouses, water ducts and tank constructed by Herod. Two skeletons of a young couple and that of a
little child with the pleated long hair have been dug up and are preserved in
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rockefeller</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Museum</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Now <st1:place w:st="on">Masada</st1:place>
is a term that springs a fountain of patriotism in Jews. They vow that <st1:place w:st="on">Masada</st1:place> will never again be allowed to be repeated.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Qumran</span></u></st1:place><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> and
Essenes monks.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Further up, on the shore of the
Dead Sea is <st1:place w:st="on">Qumran</st1:place> where the religious sect of
Essenes scribes copied the famous Dead Sea Scroll. A Bedouin boy named Muhammad
rearing his sheep discovered this scroll of the books of Bible in 1947. In
search of one of his sheep, he threw a stone into a cave. A tinkling sound came from the cave. He with
a friend explored the cave and found a jar. There was this scroll in papyrus
neatly rolled and preserved in skin. They sold it to an antique merchant for a
small sum. He took it to the Antiochan Syrian bishop Jesu Samuel Mar Athanasios
of Markose Dayara. . Experts told the bishop that it is a very old hand written
Hebrew book of Isaiah of the Bible. Realizing its antique value, he sailed to <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region> and conducted
a series of its exhibition. Thus, he sold it to the highest bidder, a Jew for
US $ 0.25million. This discovery leads
to a series of searches of the caves (nearly 200) in <st1:place w:st="on">Qumran</st1:place>.
Practically all the books of the Bible were recovered. They are now kept in the
museums in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
These books were hand copied by
the Essenes monks. These monks were a group of Jews who returned from
Babylonian captivity. Finding that Judaism has deteriorated, they started their
puritan version of it some when around 150 BC. The community was of monks
devoted to spiritualism. They lived in the desert caves waiting for their Messiah.
By around 70 AD, this community disintegrated. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><b><u>Dead Sea</u></b></st1:place><b><u>.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We stopped for lunch and then moved
to a Spa in the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. This Sea is the
lowest spot on earth. Hence, the oxygen content of its air is the highest. The Seawater
is rich in minerals and salts. It is nearly 40% salty and 10 times more salty
than the ordinary seawater. This high
density of the water makes you to float in it. No one can be drowned in the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. You will only float. However, we have to be
careful that even a drop of its water should not get even accidentally into
your eye. The eyeballs and cornea may be bruised and wounded by the salt
crystals. You may even loose eyesight. Persons with high blood pressure may
aggravate it by bathing in the water or sea mud. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We had instructions to bring
towels and dress to change for bathing in the Sea. Alex, Lalitha and me floated
in the sea for about 10 minutes. Then I joined a group taking fresh water bath
under an overhead pipe system fitted with many taps on a circular pipe. Each
opened by a hanging chain. Pull the chain. Water gushes on to your head. We
were a medley: men, women, Indians, Westerners, and yellow skinned; and even <st1:place w:st="on">Negros</st1:place>. I went into an enclosure for changing while Alex
and wife went up the steps to the spa‘s changing rooms.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
14 different kinds of salts are
extracted from the salt farms in the area. Powdering of rocks and stones of the
sea and nearby salt hills to extract the salts is a major industry. Potash used
for the manufacture of fertilizers is an important export of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> water is said to be medicinal for curing skin
diseases. Plenty of multi-storied hotels have sprung up to lodge people from
all over the World to come and stay for one day to weeks, to be cured by
bathing in the sea. Some smear the body in the black mud of the Sea and wash it
off after hours. I saw a few completely smeared in this dark mud, along with me
on the shore. Dead Sea resources are encashed by <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> in many ways. Seawater and
its mud are processed as cakes, soaps, creams and what not. They are
beautifully packed in colourful cartons to lure the customers. After bathing,
the bus took us to a nearby medicinal shop, which has a stock of these soaps
and creams. Some of us purchased a few items from that shop. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
It is feared that in another 50
years the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> may dry up and become
history. Daily three million tons of its water is evaporated. During the last
50 years, the sea level has gone down by three meters or more. The roads and
luxury hotels have all come up on such sea drained new land. Jordan River
originates in the spring of Banias at the foot of <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Hermon</st1:placename> and flows into the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>. From there it flows to <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place>. The river is 251 KM long. Now the latter part of the river
has dried up. However, Government is diverting water from Sea of Galilee to an
artificial canal to keep Jordan River and the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>
alive. This project is not a success. They are now scheming to bring water from
<st1:placename w:st="on">Aqaba</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Gulf</st1:placetype>
to <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>.
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We left the Dead Sea around 5
PM to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
<st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> the
oldest city was very near our bus route. Joshua, the leader of the Israelites
in their Exodus to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place> in 1210 BC,
conquered it. Modern <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city>
is a little south east of the old <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> and
north of the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. In the 1967 war, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> wrested from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>,
<st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> and the
areas around. But, in the peace talks, they gave West Bank area to <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>. <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> is now in the West Bank area of (Arab) <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>. We passed it
twice on our tour, but could not go in. I<span style="color: magenta;">t </span>was
on this road from <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> to <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> that robbers as referred to in the
Bible attacked a man. (Lk. 10:30-36). It was in those days a rugged country
place of winding roads. While the priest and the Levite saw the wounded man and
left on their way, the Good Samaritan (of the Biblical parable) attended to him
and took him to the nearest inn to be nursed and cured. </div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">12.<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were coming down a steep
road from the east through a valley to climb up the Jerusalem Hill. “The
deepest darkness” of King David’s Psalm 23.4 came to my mind. In those days,
the narrow way in this valley must have been dark with thick forest and beasts
to frighten any sheep. The golden dome of the mosque El Aksa (Dome of the Rock)
glittered in the evening Sun inviting us to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>—the
“<st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city>” of
Christendom. The left turn in the road
took us to be between the Sun and the Dome. The golden dome dazzled in the
evening rays of the Sun. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> –A general view</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Because of the roadblock, we
slowed down. This gave us an opportunity to see the whole <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> city on the slope on our left. On
our right side was the highest point of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
Satan tested Jesus on this pinnacle and asked Him to jump down to prove that He
is the son of God. (Luke. 4:9-11; Mat. 4:5-6). The bus moved and stopped at the
Dung gate of the walled city of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>,
the capital city of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
is a cape-promontory—into the Palestinian West Bank area of Arabs. About 40 %
of the population is Christians. The rest are mostly Muslims. The old city has
four quarters and eight gates. On the western side of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mount</st1:placename></st1:place>
is the Wailing Wall and the Jewish area. The Muslim quarter is the commercial
center of the city. The Christian quarter has the famous churches, monasteries
and the Holy Sepulcher. The <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
parliament Knesset, museums and hospitals are in the new expanded city area.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Caveat.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> is a small crowded city with every
kind of business activity related to religious tourism. All incidents and
locations in the life and mission of Jesus are highlighted and venerated by
specially constructed churches, alters, grottos and memorabilia. Some incidents
are claimed to have happened at a different place. Four places are claimed as Emmaus where Jesus
met two of his followers after resurrection. (Lk. 24:13). Two places are
claimed to be the place of the Last Supper Room. Two places are pointed as <st1:place w:st="on">Calvary</st1:place>. In all these places churches or alters have been
built by one Christian denomination or other. Seeing all of them in
chronological sequence is difficult. The monuments are so many and close to
each other that we have to pass from one to another nearby, rather than the
next one in the sequence. So, we saw
each church / monument often as an independent item by itself. For example, the last five stages in the Way
of the Cross are in the same <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Holy Sepulture</st1:placename></st1:place>. We saw
the tomb of Jesus and later climbed to the Calvary and the <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place>
inside the church as the last item. Similarly seeing all the monuments and
churches and alters is also not possible. For that, we require more time and
leisure. Again they are scattered in Arab controlled <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Syria</st1:country-region>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place>
and the Jewish Israel. So one has to enter and renter these countries to view
all of them. Those who start from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
often stay more days in Arab countries and areas than those who go for the tour
from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>. In short, this travelogue is not a
chronological tracing of the events in the life of Jesus. It is only a
narration of all what we saw and experienced on each day of our tour. I have
added more information on topics I got interested from guides and friends by
collecting them from my reading of books and internet </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Dung Gate.<o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
At the Dung Gate there was very
heavy rush. We queued and edged forward for about four hundred meters into the
Wailing Wall square. It was the western wall of the old <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> temple. Muslims constructed their
mosque over its ruins. So now, it is part of the “Dome of the Rock” complex.
The lowest seven rows of huge cut stones of the wall were part of the original
wall of the temple. Jews were praying with forward shaking heads near this
wall. Jewish guards insisted every one to wear a cap to go near the wall. Those
not having cap were given free paper caps. Women were allowed to cover their
heads with cloth or sari ends. There is a belief that your prayers scribbled on
paper and tucked in the crevices of this wall will be answered by God. Therefore,
some were doing this and others were reciting their prayers. Batches of
tourists go near the wall to be edged out after a few minutes, by other
batches. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Wailing Wall<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
A large number of Jews were
viewing a passing out parade of young <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> military cadets. The army
had temporarily cloth-fenced an area in the square for the parade. Their
announcements on the microphone, drums, band music and the din and bustle of
the pilgrim crowd created pandemonium. A couple of hundred military chaps in
uniform and rifles were also on the scene. In the wake of the <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>, Israeli conflict, and the jostling
of Jews, Palestinian Arabs and Christian pilgrims and tourists, instilled
anxiety as to what may happen next.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
A roll call of our badge
numbers was then heard from our leaders to ensure that all of us are present to
return to our waiting bus. On behalf of the tour operators, our <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> guide had given us booklets and maps of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and a green P-cap on the start of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> tour.
Locating us in the crowd was easy with the green P-cap. The bus took us around
7.30 Pm to the four star multi-storied Tower Hotel of Jerusalem. 18<sup>th</sup>
and 19<sup>th</sup> nights, we were to stay in the same hotel. Some tourist
groups stay 2 or 3 days in <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city> and visit <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and other places in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. We stayed for 3 days in <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and visited <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
in <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>. Some
of the pilgrim centers visited by them, we could not go and vice versa.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Hanging
lights.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Alex and I went out after
dinner for a stroll. From the hotel, we turned left and I was struck by a
stunning sight of thousands of bright lights in the sky. I was wondering at it
and storming my brain for a reason. Then Alex said it is the street and
buildings lights on the hanging slope of the city. The road level we walked was
so beneath them that the scene was magical.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were seeking an IT shop. Alex
wanted re-chargers for his movie and still cameras. He also wanted to download
our tickets from internet for return journey from <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city>. We were to leave the tour group at <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
to be on our own itinerary to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>.
After a long walk in the night we located a shop, got the things we wanted and
returned by 11Pm.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">13. Enter <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Palestine</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Friday 19<sup>th</sup> Sept.
2008 was the fourth day of the tour; we started around 8 Am on our bus with the
routine prayers and singing. Being the Ramadan month and Friday, holy for
Arabs, the crowd during daytime was scanty. Therefore, we changed our tour
route to go first to <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city> in <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>.<span style="color: magenta;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city><b><u>
</u></b>is a very important place for Jews and Christians. During his return
journey from Mesopotamia to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. (Genesis.
48:7) Jacob buried his wife Rachel in the Hebron Hill area. This site is on the
side of the road to Ephrath (<st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>).
It is also the birthplace of David. (1 Sam.17:12) and of Jesus (.Mat.2:5) It<u>
</u>is only 10 KM due south of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
<st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>, being inside <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>, we had to leave our bus on the
boarder and go through the security check to board a Palestinian bus. Even the
tour guide had to be changed. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were to celebrate Holy
Qurbana in a <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
church. But, the time allotted to us was 12 Noon. Therefore, we went first to a
Syrian shop for Religious Souvenirs. <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
is a city of artisans. They manufacture souvenirs. It is a cottage industry. Many are engaged in
the manufacture of crosses and artifacts with olive wood. Our group including
priests and nuns purchased a number of items. Metal and wooden crosses in all sizes, from one inch to table top size,
vestry items, jute bags and tea shirts with souvenir prints on them, costly
icons and a number of souvenir trinkets were for sale. They were all very
highly priced and offered at a 5% discount hoax. I purchased a few one inch wooden crosses and
two red T-shirts for casual ware. </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Authenticity of
sites, <o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The crowd was thin and so we
moved after the shopping to the front of the World renowned Nativity Church in
Bethlehem- the birth place of Jesus (Mt.2:1). The Roman emperor Augustus Caesar
ordered a population census for fixing tax on the citizens. Joseph being in the
lineage of David had to register his name in <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>. Joseph and Mary went from <st1:city w:st="on">Nazareth</st1:city>. They could not
find a room in <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>
to stay. Jesus was thus born in a manger-stable. The church built over it came
to be known as the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>. We see in the
picture Alex and Lalitha sitting inside the Nativity church.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Alex and Lalita<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
It was Empress Helena, mother
of <st1:city w:st="on">Constantine</st1:city>
who identified the Holy Cross on which Jesus was crucified and other places of
importance in his life. How did she locate those places?<span style="color: red;"> </span>Roman Empire was divided around 309 AD into two empires with <st1:city w:st="on">Rome</st1:city> and <st1:place w:st="on">Constantinople</st1:place>
as capitals. In due course, <st1:place w:st="on">Constantinople</st1:place>
became more important. <st1:city w:st="on">Constantine</st1:city>
was the emperor. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
If some one ask 50 years after
your death to a resident near your present residence, “Where did you (named so
and so) lived? “. Quite probably, they will express their total ignorance of
such a person. Then how is that, 300 years after His death, <st1:city w:st="on">Helena</st1:city> identified the important places in the
life of Jesus? She heard stories about the life and mission of Jesus and became
convinced. She became a Christian. One night she dreamt that the cross on which
Christ was crucified lies buried in a spot in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. She went in 326 AD to <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>. Her workers
started digging the place. At last, she found a cross deep down in a well;
probably formed later by the walls erected around it other constructions of
succeeding generations. It is said that
miracles happened to all persons who handled or touched it. They got convinced
of the originality and sanctity of the cross. She called a meeting of forty
most knowledgeable persons in the empire She deputed them to search all records
and all kinds of information from all parts of the world to locate the places
of importance in the life of Jesus. They were to report back in a definite period.
They all returned and submitted their reports before juries. 26 of the 40
corroborated in pointing out the same locations for each incident. It is these
locations that are now venerated with shrines and churches built over them in
the fourth century. They are likely to be the original places. Believing them
to be so, we venerate them. But, for some of the locations, now there are
different claimants. Greek Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Armenian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Churches</st1:placetype></st1:place> are the dominant claimants. </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Boswell of
Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Christ the teacher got <st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city> to be the
“Boswell to Johnson”, to interpret his teachings. <st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city> interpreted and carried the messages
and mission of Jesus through his speeches and letters. Empress Helena made <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> the “<st1:city w:st="on">Mecca</st1:city>”
of Christendom. She identified the places where the historical person Jesus
lived his sacrificial mission in this World. Thus, <st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city> and Empress Helena together erected
the edifice of Christendom. Jesus, the Guru, <st1:city w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:city> the interpreter and Helena the
locator were the builders of the first Christendom (Byzantine).Emperor
Constantine who became a Christian gave royal imprint to Christianity. By the
early fourth century, Christian religion thus became not only a religion of the
poor, but also of all, including the rich of the World.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The Quintessence of this World
Religion is simple to comprehend, though a little difficult to practice. The
Son God incarnated as man to teach humanity self-sacrifice and Universal love
as the method of building a new society, which we call Heaven (Mt.20:28). He
taught us to create the Heaven immediately in this World itself, by practicing
his own example of “Universal Brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God”.
His great command was “Love one another just as God loves you”. (Jon. 15:12).
God loved man so much to sacrifice Himself on the Cross to absolve men for all
their disobedience and sins. The essence of Christianity is “Love your neighbor,
as you love yourself”. (Mk.12:31). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">14. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>
is built on the birthplace of Jesus.
This church is one of the oldest and looks like a fortress. Emperor
Constantine first built it immediately after the 325 AD Council of <st1:city w:st="on">Nicaea</st1:city>. Huge stone blocks
like that of the pyramids were used in the construction.<a href="file:///D:/J%20K%20A%20&%20others%20Mail%20STEPHEN%20%20%20etc%20photos/CLIMBING%20JERUSALEM-photos-%20ONLY%20For%20printing.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></a>
The Persian invaders of the 7<sup>th</sup> century destroyed every Christian
church and altar. However, this church was spared. The fresco on the wall
depicting the visit of the three Magi from the east had Persian dress on them.
That possibly prevented them from destroying the church </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Prophet Micah had predicted the
birth of Jesus in the 8<sup>th</sup> century BC “God will bring a ruler for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> from <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city> (Mic.5:2). The prediction became
true. He was born in the stable of a cave in <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>. An altar was later built over this
cave. A silver star was inlaid on the
floor to mark the spot of birth. This altar belongs to the Greek Orthodox
Church. Another altar below this belongs to the Latin Catholic Church. The
altar on the side belongs to the Armenian Church. . Roman Emperor Hadrian
(76-138 AD<span style="color: red;">)</span> closed the entrance to this church
and erected a temple over it for a Heathen goddess. Later it was demolished and
the church re-opened for believers</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We had to wait a few minutes
before the low-door-entrance to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>. It is called the
Door of Humility. You have to double bend your body and head to enter. The big
Arch door constructed by the Crusaders was partly sealed in the 17<sup>th</sup>
century to prevent Muslim equestrians riding in. Another tourist group before
us was winding their way in. Inside, you enter into the great Justinian
Basilica constructed in 530 AD. This great hall has two rows of tall
magnificent columns on either side. We can see its original mosaic floor down
below the present floor through an opening. The birth spot of Jesus is below
the main altar.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
Holy Manger steps. </div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
<br />
<div class="Section2">
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We have to go down the narrow
steps on the right side of the altar to the front of the Holy Manger. There
again there is a circular shaped five stairs downwards. After that, you lower
your head to enter the Holy Manger. You are now in the birth spot of Jesus and
the Silver Star. It is written here, “Here Jesus Christ was born of virgin
Mary”. We knelt, one by one before the Silver Star in veneration. A number of
incense burners in silver and gold casing hang in the grotto. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1036" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:234.75pt;height:165.75pt'>
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o:title="Birth Place of Jesus"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="221" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image024.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1036" width="313" /><!--[endif]--> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span></b>
<br />
<div class="Section3">
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-left: 1.0in; text-align: center;">
<b>The Star at the Birth Place of Jesus</b><i> </i><b>in
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Nativity</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place><o:p></o:p></b></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" />
</span>
<br />
<h5 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Just on, the left side off the Nativity church is the
Latin church of <st1:place w:st="on">St.</st1:place> Catherine into which we
emerge from the grotto. Every year, the Latin
Patriarch celebrates the Christmas Eve in this church. Pilgrims from all over
the World come to attend. Under this church, there is the grotto of <st1:city w:st="on">St Jerome</st1:city> where the saint
spent 40 years translating the Bible from Hebrew to Latin. He is said to be
buried here. We also saw another grotto of innocents close by. This is the
place marked to remember the hundreds of children below 2 years massacred on
the orders of King Herod. (Mt. 2:16). From there we enter into the open
quadrangle. A photographer arranged us in front of the Nativity church for a
group photo. He sold copies to those of us who wanted at US $ 5 per copy.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Celebration of
Eucharist in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
By 11.30 Am, we climbed a few
steps up in to a beautiful small church. Here we were to have our Holy Qurbana
of the tour St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Church is an Antiochan Syrian parish
church. The priest gives it out to tourists for celebration of Holy Qurbana for
a small fee. They assist the tourists in all ways by supplying Lahamo (leavened
bread) and Mass wine for the Holy Eucharist.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
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o:title="DSC01806 Priests who were present"/>
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<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Our tour group included V. Rev.
Gabriel Remban of Pathanapuran Dayara, six other priest and two Nuns. One
priest was Fr.Dr. Joseph Thomas of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Manganam</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Marthoma</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
Kottaym. Rembachan celebrated the Holy Qurbana. We all received individual
absolution from the priests and Holy Communion from the celebrant. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We have all earlier
participated in our life in Holy Qurbana. However, to have it at <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>, the birthplace
of Jesus is a lifetime chance for one from Kerala. Recalling through Holy Mass
the birth and the incidents in His life, the last supper and institution of
Holy Qurbana, His crucification and resurrection was all imprinting indelible Christian
faith in us. Partaking in His body and blood through the Holy Communion was
indeed God’s Grace showering on us. Kunjannamma, like all others were in real
ecstasy. We thank God for this great blessing. From the Church we came down to
a nearby hotel for a luxurious lunch. There was a small park in front of the
hotel with a number of olive trees. Some of us plucked unripe fruit to feel it.
It looks just like our hog-plum (Ambazhanga) </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Milk grotto <o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We boarded the bus to go to the
nearby Milk grotto and the attached church. We got out of the bus and climbed a
small hill to the front of the church. This is very near the Nativity church.
The grotto is much below the ground level.
Joseph and Mary in their flight to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> rested for a while to feed
the baby. The legend is that a drop of breast milk fell on the ground. The soil
became milk-white. This is not mentioned
anywhere in the Bible. However, it is a strong tradition. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
Entrance to the
Milk Grotto church</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Through a rock cut window in
the wall of the church, we could look out and see the Shepard’s field at the
bottom of the hill. For lack of time, we could not go to the Shepherd’s Field
church in the valley. It is here that the Angels appeared and announced the
birth of Jesus (Lk. 2: 10-14). “For today there was born for you in the city of
<st1:city w:st="on">David</st1:city> a Savior
who is Christ the Lord”. We went again down through another flight of steps to
the Milk grotto. The walls of the grotto
are all chalky. The white powder that falls from the rock is collected in very
small phials. It is sold for a small price to the tourists. Tasting it is believed to make barren women
to conceive. Dr. A. A. James of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chittur</st1:city>,
<st1:state w:st="on">Cochin</st1:state></st1:place>, came to our residence a
year ago. He vouched to us the efficacy of the powder. He brought a phial from
the grotto and gave it to a neighbor woman. She delivered a child within a
year. Another belief is that breast milk of the nursing mothers will increase
if the powder is taken with milk. These may be superstitious stories. Anyway,
the priests and Nuns in our group got into the grotto and chanted our routine
prayers and songs.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u><span lang="ES">15. Re-enter Israel—Ein
Karem <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Birth place of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. John</st1:place></st1:city> the Baptist : patron saint of <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Mepral St</st1:address></st1:street>, John’s
parish church</b><b><u><span lang="ES"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
From the Milk grotto, we
surfaced and returned to our bus to re-enter <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. At the boarder, we left the Palestinian bus.
We went through the routine security checking and boarded our Israeli bus
waiting on the other side with our luggage. We entered a small town Ein Karem
in Israel 7 Km southwest of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>, and only
3 or 4 Km from <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>. Zachariah and Elizabeth, parents of John the
Baptist lived here. St. Mary visited <st1:city w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:city>
already six months pregnant. St. Mary had only just conceived Jesus. When St
Mary, mother of Jesus, greeted <st1:city w:st="on">Elizabeth</st1:city>,
her babe (John) leaped in her womb (Lk. 1:41). A church was built on this site
in the 4<sup>th</sup> century. It was destroyed. The present <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Visitation</st1:placename></b></st1:place>
was built over the ruins of the old church in 1935. There are frescos of this
visit on the walls. The church has a tall belfry and is in the center of the
town. In the cave grotto below the church a star on the floor mark the birth
place of <st1:city w:st="on">St. John</st1:city>
the Baptist. Our <st1:city w:st="on">St. John’s</st1:city> church in Mepral, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Kerala</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>
is in his name.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Via Dolorosa<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Our next tour was to the Via
Dolorosa- the way of the cross. The Catholic Encyclopedia gives 14 stations in
the Way of the Cross. It is the Roman Catholic Church that developed in the 17<sup>th</sup>
century, this concept of 14 stations in the path of Jesus to <st1:place w:st="on">Calvary</st1:place>.
The stations where the pilgrims stop and pray are:</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
1. The
praetorium where Christ is condemned to death by the people and Pilate
(Lk.23:23-24)</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
2. The
cross is laid on him</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
3. His
first fall under the weight of the cross</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
4. He
meets his mother.</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
5. Simon
of Cyrane is made to bear the cross (Lk.23:26).</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
6. Veronica
wipes the sweat of his face. It is said, the face got imprinted on this cloth </div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
7. His
second fall with the cross.</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
8. Meets
the wailing women of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
(Lk. 23:28).</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
9. His
third fall with the cross.</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
10. He
is stripped of his garments. (Jn.19:23)</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
11. His
crucification at <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
12. His
death on the cross. (Lk. 23:46).</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
13. Holy
Body is taken down from the cross by Aremathea Joseph.</div>
<div class="MsoList" style="text-align: justify;">
14. Jesus
is laid in the tomb. (Jn.19:41).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The Encyclopedia says that
there are other variations for this “Way of the Cross”. It can have more or
less stations according to your own convictions. Anyway for the pilgrim, it is
a real experience to go through, reciting prayers and remembering the
sufferings Jesus had on His way to the cross.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>We Followed Christ on the Way of the Cross<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Since it was the Ramadan month
and Friday evening there was heavy rush of vehicles blocking the road traffic. People
were rushing home to break their fast. After trying to go by bus, we embarked
on the roadside and walked down a few steps to the Lion Gate of the walled city
of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
We got inside into a small quadrangle. It is part of the old Praetorium where
Pilate tried Jesus and handed Him over to the crowd to crucify Him. Praetorium
was in the extensive Antonia Fortress built by Herod in 36 BC. Pilate lived and
held his court here. Titus later destroyed it in 70 AD. The <b>Gabatha</b> (stone seat) on which Pilate
sat and declared the verdict to crucify Jesus (Jon.19:13) was here. This is the first station of the Way of the
Cross. It is on the right side of the small quadrangle. On turning on your heel
around is the <b>Church of Flagellation</b>.
Jesus was scourged here at the pillar. He received the Cross. A Crown of Thorn
was pressed on to His head. The inside of the dome above the altar of the
church has a mosaic of this Crown of Thorns. From this second station, we moved
a few steps left and were in the third station. Here was His first fall under
the heavy weight of the cross. The fourth station was where Jesus met his
mother. We came out to a narrow road and there was an avalanche of “Nombu
Murickal” Muslims rushing home on their feet. We eased us to the right side of
the road and edged on in single file to stations 5, 6 etc; up to 9<sup>th</sup>
station of Via Dolorosa. Reliefs of Jesus falling under the cross, the number
of the stations are all etched on the walls of the way of the cross. At one point,
we passed an Egyptian Monastery, where the monks were chanting prayers. <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>First fall of Christ on Via Dolorosa.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The last five stations are
inside the complex<b> </b>of the<b> Holy Sepulcher Church</b>. Emperor
Constantine first built it immediately after the Council of Nicaea. (325 AD).
The Empress Helena also identified the tomb of Jesus. Three buildings were
built on the area. A round church over the empty grave of Jesus, a big Basilica
called <b>Martyrium</b> and in between a
shrine over Golgotha- the place where Christ was crucified These were destroyed by the Persians in 614
AD, rebuilt and was again destroyed in 1009 by Caliph Hakkim. The crusaders
reconstructed it in 1149 AD. Now it is all a single complex belonging to Greek
Orthodox Church. However, it has altars of Armenian and other Christian sects.
From outside, if we look, we see two arches of which the right one is the
entrance. Over the roof, we find two domes. At all the five stations inside, the
pilgrims stop and pray. 13<sup>th</sup> station is where the body was taken
down and kept on a stone for anointing it and preparing it for burial. They
keep the fragrance of the marble stone for the pilgrims to smell.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The tomb of Christ<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The inner tomb of Christ in the
complex is the last (14<sup>th</sup>) station of the Way of the Cross. It has
an entrance called the <b>Chapel of Angel</b>.
It is here that the Angel declared that Jesus resurrected. We had to wait there
for 15 minutes because a high mass by Bishops and monks were going on. They
finally came in a candle procession and showed the censer at the chapel. Only
when they left we were permitted to enter into the chapel in fives. Guards
control the entry into the inner tomb. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Holy Sepulcher<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
A marble slab covers the sacred
tomb. The body of Christ was here from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. There is
only just enough space to kneel at the mouth of the tomb you kneel down, one by
one, at the marble slab and turn to the left to go up by the same door to the
chapel of Angel. When the former five
return the next five is allowed to go in. Beneath the church there is said to
be the well in which the original cross was found.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
From there we went
up to Golgotha and <st1:place w:st="on"><b>Calvary</b></st1:place>
(12<sup>th</sup> station). Here they keep a glass-encased rock on which stood
the original cross of Jesus. One has to
climb up a few steep winding steps to enter the small shrine to pray. At all these stations in this building,
different sects of Christians practice their religious ceremonies. <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Steps to <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place>
mount<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Many Protestants believe that
the place of crucification and resurrection took place not here, but just
outside the wall of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
north of Damascus Gate. (Jn. 19:41). This place is the <b>Garden Tomb of Christ</b> discovered in 1883 by the British General
Charles Gorden. We could not go there. We reached the Tower hotel by 7.30 PM
and rested for the night.</div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></u></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></u></h5>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mount of Olives</span></u></st1:place><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> (Ref; website Bibleplaces.com and Microsoft internet explorer)<o:p></o:p></span></h5>
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o:title="Mt of olives"/>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><b>Mount of Olives</b></st1:place><b> plaque<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Next day 20 Sept., was our 5<sup>th</sup>
day of the tour. We moved out of the hotel with our baggage. We were leaving <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> to the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>.
First, we went to the <st1:place w:st="on">Mount of Olives</st1:place>. It is a
2900 ft high hill. It is about 300 ft above the <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> city. Kidron valley lies between
the mount and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>. Mt. of olives had
plenty of olive trees on its slope. The <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> garden is on its western slope. Even now,
there are olive trees in this garden. Some of the trees are very old and said
to be those that existed in the time of Jesus.
There were also small caves on the slope. From the top of the mount, one
can get a complete picture of the <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
city on the opposite hill.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The <st1:place w:st="on">Mount
of Olives</st1:place> slopes down to the Kidron valley in the west. There are
thousands of Jewish tombs on this slope. Jews believed that the Lord would come
on the Final Day of Judgment and stand on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename></st1:place>.
(Zec.14:4). There will be destruction all around and the righteous will be
gathered for God in Heaven. The Universal resurrection of all the dead will happen.
Hence, they were meticulous in preserving the mortal remains of the dead in
tombs. They buried their dead on this slope to be resurrected first on the
arrival of the Lord. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On the top of the mount, there
is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Ascension</st1:placename></b></st1:place><b>. </b>In the morning, we first went to this Church<b>. </b>This is the place from where Jesus was taken up in a cloud after
resurrection (Acts. 1:9). It is a small circular building with a dome on the
top. There is a rock in the center of the floor on which the footprint,
supposed to be of Jesus, is visible. In the early centuries, a shrine was built
there. However, it was destroyed. Now it is a small Muslim mosque in an open
quadrangle. But, pilgrims are allowed to enter and pray for a small fee. We
went in one by one, kneeled, and touched the rock to pray. </div>
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<br /></div>
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o:title="IMG_0650 Church of Ascension"/>
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Ascension</st1:placename></b></st1:place><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lords Prayer<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were now in the <st1:place w:st="on">Mount of Olives</st1:place>. Jesus and His disciples often stayed
here in a cave. It is here that He taught them the Lords Prayer<b> (</b>Pater noster<b>)</b>. An altar was constructed on this spot. This prayer is written in
44 different languages on the walls of the cave and adjoining walls on the
way. It was a pleasant experience to
read the Lords prayer in Malayalam. 35 million Malayalees is a microscopic minority
of the 6500 million humanity. Their language Malayalam is only one in the
thousands of the dialects used in the World. It is a matter of great pride for
every Keralite and its Diaspora all over the World that, their language is one
of the 44 in which Lords Prayer is displayed. Alex took photos of it and of us
in front of the Malayalam version.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
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o:title="DSC01915 written in all languages on the walls-Malayalam"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="448" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image046.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1047" width="597" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Patter Noster-They have written Lord’s
Prayer on the wall in 44 languages. We are standing in front of the Lord’s
Prayer in Malayalam.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">The last
Supper<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The <st1:city w:st="on">Bethany</st1:city>
and Beth phage are just on the eastern slope of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename></st1:place>. They are on the other side of the mount.
Jesus in His triumphant entry into <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
(Mat.21:1-13) got the donkey for the ride from here. It was to this <st1:city w:st="on">Bethany</st1:city> that he returned
after the ride for the night rest. Again two days before the Passover, it was
at Simon’s house in <st1:city w:st="on">Bethany</st1:city>
(Mat.26:2) that Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus by pouring a very expensive
bottle of perfume on His head. It was symbolic of His preparation for the
impending supreme sacrifice of death on the wooden cross.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We started our descent from the
top of the mount. To repeat, <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> city is
on the west of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename></st1:place> and the Kidron
valley. The old city was only the <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city> with
the City of <st1:city w:st="on">David</st1:city>
on its south. Later the <st1:city w:st="on">New City</st1:city>
came up westward on the slope above the old city. The Roman Fort and Praetorium
of Pilate were outside the ancient wall of this expanded city. The <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> city later further expanded upwards to include
Herod’s palace and <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place>. The present city
wall encompasses all these. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
All Jews used to come inside
the <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
city only rarely. Celebrations of the Passover, and Pentecost were such
occasions. Jesus and disciples came to
the upper room in <st1:city w:st="on">Zion</st1:city>
mount to celebrate the Passover, called the “Festival of the unleavened bread”.
It was here that Jesus had the Last Supper and instituted the Holy Qurbana.
(Mat.26:26-27). This incident is written in all the four gospels.<span lang="EN"> Eastern Orthodox Christians believes that the
institution of the Eucharist as the “inauguration of the “The New Covenant
mentioned by Prophet Jeremiah and it was fulfilled at the Last Supper, when
Jesus said, “Take, eat; this [bread] is My Body; which is broken for you.
Partake of the cup, drink; this [wine] is My Blood, which is shed for many; for
the remission of sins”. </span> Many
other Christians view it as the new Passover communion. Jesus himself thus
becomes the Passover bread and wine. We are familiar with different versions of
the picture of the Last Supper. Here is an Icon of the Eastern Orthodox Church
drawn by a Russian painter, Simon Ushakov taken. (Ref: Internet)</div>
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<br /></div>
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o:title="Simon_ushakov_last_supper_1685"/>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Last Supper</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The exact site of the Last
Supper is not known. We now only know
that the Last Supper Room was on the Mt. Zion Mount Zion lies to the
south of today’s city walls. It is possible that the present site stands over
or near the original site of the <b>Last
Supper Room</b>.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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o:title="DSC01974 Sehion Malika inside the old city"/>
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Sehion Malika inside the city<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The Last Supper Room and the Room of Pentecost
are assumed to be the same. Later, Muslims made it into a mosque. The Catholic
Church purchased it from them and retains it as a shrine. It is near the <b>Dormition Abbey</b> where St. Mary died.
She died in a house inside the city. But, the body was carried ceremoniously to
a rock cut cave outside the city far down in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kidron</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Valley</st1:placetype></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
.</div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tomb of King David (970 BC)<o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
People believe it to be located
beneath this Last Supper Upper Room in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Zion</st1:placename></st1:place>. The Jews control the area.
One can go to this tomb room only with a cap on the head. Free paper caps are
available. We see Jews reading the Torah -in sitting and standing positions.
Their body bends back and forth when they pray. The Torah is kept open to be
read by any.</div>
<h4 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image051.jpg"
o:title="DSC01925 christ rode on the donkey this way to the Temple"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="286" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image052.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1050" width="381" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></h4>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>The descent from <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename> to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>
temple <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Christ rode this way down on the donkey on the Hosanna day<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We started from Mount of Olives
on the route Jesus took for His Triumphant Entry into <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> at Bethphage (Mt.21:1- 3). Jesus
rode on a young donkey accompanied by a multitude-chanting hosanna. They shouted,
“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”. (Lk. 19:38). It was a
great procession to the <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
temple. The entire riff and raff of the city and some others joyously
participated in the chanting. Jesus’ mission on Earth was coming to an end. His
speeches and actions enraged the Jewish priests and elders. On entering <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> temple he drove
out all who were buying and selling (Mt. 21:12), charging them of making the
sacred temple a cave of thieves.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>We move down on the Hosanna way<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The descent from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Olives</st1:placename></st1:place>
to the temple is so steep that a miss-step may send you rolling down 50 feet
below, breaking your bones. We slowly
went down systematic and holding on to the railings attached to the wall. Prof. Mary Thomas who had a knee problem
slipped. She felt it impossible to go down. After an attempt, she arranged a
taxi and went down the short distance. The road then turned to the right. An
Arab with a donkey stood on the way. He was inviting tourists to get on to his
donkey. Jim Nanthiyattu, the only teenager among us complied. He paid a US
Dollar. On request, Alex took a photo of the boy on his camera. He took another
photo of us three holding on the donkey. We also paid a dollar and the Arab
thanked us profusely.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On the left of our way was the <b>Dominus Flevit</b> (The Lord Wept) church.
One could see the temple mount and the entire <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> city from this slope. This is the
spot where Jesus looked at the city of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
and cried. He wept foreseeing the
impending destruction of the magnificent city. It was the one rebuilt by King
Herod when he was in charge of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
area of the <st1:place w:st="on">Roman Empire</st1:place>.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">16. <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> Olive Garden<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
In our tour, we then turned to
the right and into <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> in Olive Garden
area. It is here that Jesus went to pray after His Last Supper. On the right of
the road, three or four old first century tomb relics of Jews were seen
preserved in a cave. In the <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> garden,
Jesus knelt down and prayed in agony. “He fell on His face praying “My Father,
if it possible let this cup pass from Me; however not as I will but as You
will” (Mt.26:39). “His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood”.
(Lk.22:44). The church built on the rock on which he prayed is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Agony</st1:placename></b></st1:place>.
It is also known as the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">All</st1:placename></b></st1:place><b> nations.</b> This magnificent church was
built over the earlier church in 1920 with contributions from 14 nations. The
rock on which Jesus prayed is built into the floor of the church. We could not
get in. It was closed. We were late in reaching there. Christ was arrested and
taken to Caiaphas by the soldiers from this garden</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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o:title="Holy Land Gethsamane & All Nations Church"/>
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<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">All</st1:placename></st1:place>
Nations</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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o:title="IMG_0689 Olive tree 2000 yrs old"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="379" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image058.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1053" width="502" /><!--[endif]--> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><b>Gethsemane</b></st1:place><b> Olive garden<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>A 2000-year-old Olive tree.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place>
olive garden is now fenced and entry is controlled. It has over twenty old
olive trees. Of them eight trees are very old and have massive thick trunk.
They are said to be 2000 years old. Scientists have tested the cells of the
tree trunks. The tests proved them to be really so old. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Down on the donkey ride road,
there is a spot on the left wall to mark the place where Judas kissed Jesus
(Mt.26:48) to betray him to the priests and elders of Caiaphas, the chief
priest. What was the need to kiss Jesus? Though he was the leader, he was
apparently one among the thirteen in dress and outward appearance. Therefore,
Judas had to kiss to show him to the soldiers</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Just after the garden, further
down, is the <b>Church of</b> <b>tomb of Virgin Mary</b> referred above.
This site belongs to the Orthodox Church.
It was destroyed and later rebuilt by the Crusaders. We have to go down
from the entrance through a number of steps to the bottom floor. The interior
of the crypt is marked as the traditional place of St. Mary’s tomb. It is
behind an altar. Lalitha got a chance to kneel inside the crypt and pray. Monks
wait there to control the crowd. There are many other alters dedicated to
parents of St. Mary, and others. The Greek and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Armenian</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Churches</st1:placetype></st1:place>
control main altars. Coptic and Syrians also have their altars inside the
church.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We returned in quick time to
board the bus to go to the other side of the Kidron valley and to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Palace</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Caiaphas</st1:placename></st1:place>. On those days, it was outside
the city. Now it is within the city limits.
Jesus was arrested from <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> and
taken as prisoner. He was led through the Kidron valley and up to this palace.
The Sanhedrim tried him, charged Him for blasphemy, and condemned to execution.
He was then put in a dungeon in this palace.</div>
<h4 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape
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o:title="DSC02007 Peter denies--cock crows"/>
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<b>Peter Gallicantu.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Peter denies Christ- Cock crows three times. The cock is on top of the
pillar<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
It was here that during the
trial Peter denied three times any knowledge of Jesus before the rooster crowed
twice. (Mt.26:69-75). When “The Lord
turned round and looked straight at Peter”, he felt the shock and self-pity of
his life. So, Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Lk.22: 61-62).This place is
called Peter Gallicantu. There is a statue depicting Peter’s denial and three
cocks crowing on three sides of the statue. Standing there, one can see the way
Jesus was brought from <st1:place w:st="on">Gethsemane</st1:place> through the
Kidron valley to the Caiaphas palace. Over that palace now, there is a church. One
can go deep down into the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned. An open Bible
with Psalms 55-58 is kept on a podium. Pilgrims go down and read this portion.
It gives one an idea of the mind of the “man Jesus” and the agony he went
through, predicted by the Psalmist King David a thousand years before the birth
of Jesus Christ. Next day morning Jesus was taken to Pilate and then to <st1:place w:st="on">Golgotha</st1:place> to be crucified.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jonah goes to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Nineveh</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
By11. 30 Am we bid good-bye to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and was going
by the National High way towards Tel Aviv. This city on the Mediterranean coast
is 62 Km from <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>.
It is the cultural and financial center and the major Air <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">port</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Israel</st1:placename></st1:place>.
Overlooking modern Tel Aviv port is the old biblical Joppa (modern name <st1:city w:st="on">Jaffa</st1:city>). The legend about
Jonah and the whale happened here. God wanted Jonah to go to <st1:city w:st="on">Nineveh</st1:city>. Jonah boarded the ship from this
Joppa to go to Tarshis (Jonah .1:17).God caused a great storm threatening to
capsize the ship. All the sailors prayed to God. They threw Jonah to the Sea to
calm it. A whale swallowed Jonah and spewed him to the beach. Jonah was thus
forced to go to <st1:city w:st="on">Nineveh</st1:city>.
Because of his preaching people fasted and prayed to eschew their wickedness.
God then desisted from punishing them and saved the city from destruction. The
canonical Nineveh Fast of our Church is associated with this incident. Prayer
and fasting can change impending disaster in life in good time of God. It is
here that St. Peter brought back Tabitha, a woman follower, to life
(Acts.9:40-41) and stayed with Simon the tanner for many days.</div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Caesarea</span></u></st1:place><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We moved on further to <st1:city w:st="on">Haifa</st1:city> city in the north-
a great seaport. It was already 2.15 Pm and we went into a Kibbutz near the
city for lunch. The menu was many including fruits. However, some were
unpalatable for Kerala palate. The Jews have made the area a garden of all
varieties of fruit bearing plants and trees. Abundance was evident all around.
We were back in the bus and moved on to <st1:place w:st="on">Caesarea</st1:place>.
Herod in the name of Augustus Caesar first built it into a beautiful city.
Cornelius was the first converted Christian of this city. Hearing the preaching
of Peter in the house of Cornelius many gentiles became Christians. Soon it
became famous as center of Christian Learning. On the sea side of the road we
traveled was the ruins of the old Roman city and the city later rebuilt by the
Crusaders .preserved by the Archaeological Department. </div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Carmel</st1:placename></st1:place>
was on our right side. The head quarters of the Carmel Brotherhood are here. We
went into their church. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Carmel</st1:placename></st1:place> is a 1500 ft. high
lime stone mountain. We went up to the top.
<b>Monastery of the Muhraqa</b> is at its
top. </div>
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<b>Muhraqa</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Trees abound in this very
fertile area. It is a beautiful sight to see the sea on the north-west and
green slopes on other sides. They maintain a good garden. The Church is a
massive structure. From there we came down to the forest area on the south-west
slope of the mountain. From the promontory, one can see the plains a 1000 ft
below. We spent a few minutes in this area. <b>Prophet Elijah’s</b> victory over the priests of Baal took place here.
Elijah’s prayer brought fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, altar and
even the water. Elijah thus won the bet and the prophets of Baal were all
slaughtered. All who witnessed the incident believed in Jehovah. (1.Kings.18:38-39)</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Haifa</span></u></st1:place></st1:city><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">. <o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Haifa</st1:city>
is <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>’s
main seaport. This seaport side of the <st1:city w:st="on">Carmel</st1:city>
mount is now the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bahai</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>. There are Christians, Jews and Bahais living
in the <st1:city w:st="on">Carmel</st1:city>
area. The Bahais are akin to Muslims. Around 200 years ago Baha’U’llah, latest
of the Lord’s messengers taught his followers that all religions are successive
chapters of the same religion of one God. All humankind is one brotherhood. His
followers are found all over the world. They purchased the seaport slope of the
<st1:placename w:st="on">Carmel</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountain</st1:placetype>
and built their <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Bahai</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> and golden temple.
The Bahai garden overlooking the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean Sea</st1:place>
is a beauty. One has to see it to believe its celestial glory.</div>
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<b>The best well-kept garden of the <st1:placename w:st="on">Bahai</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype>
on the slopes overlooking the <st1:city w:st="on">Haifa</st1:city> port in the <st1:place w:st="on">Mediterranean Sea</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Towards evening, we reached the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Galeeli</st1:placename></st1:place> and the Eden Tiberius hotel. The
son of King Herod built old Tiberius town. Tiberius town is on the banks of the
lake called “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Galeeli</st1:placename></st1:place>”. The Sea is only 11 Km long and about 60 Km in
circumference. Yet in Bible, it is referred as a Sea. After a good sleep, we
woke up for the next day’s tour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">17. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mount</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tabor</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The 6<sup>th</sup> day of our
tour was on Sunday 21 Sept. The hotel made special arrangements to provide bed
coffee at 5.30 Am on the corridor of one of the floors of the multi-storied
hotel. We had an early breakfast and started to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tabor</st1:placename></st1:place>.
Israeli Arabs and Christians live here. The bus could not climb the steep hill
because of 15 or 20 hairpin curves of the narrow road. So, we got down from the
bus at a mid way taxi stand and waited in queue to go up on taxis: seven of us
in each trip. The entrance to the sacred
hill at the top is through a fortified gate. On top, the <b>“Basilica of Transfiguration”</b> stood in all majesty. It was rebuilt on the ruins of older churches
in 1924. This is the place where Jesus,
Peter, James and John went. Jesus transfigured before them: “His face shining
like the Sun and His clothing a brilliant white.” (Mk. 9: 3-4). Prophet Moses
and Elijah were seen on his left and right respectively. There is a fresco above
the main altar of the church depicting this scene. On the right side of the Church,
there are a few steps to go up to a terrace from where one can have a panoramic
view of the Jezreel valley far down below. Naboth’s vineyard was here. King
Ahab confiscated it by causing the death of Ahab. (1.Kings. 21). Below <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tabor</st1:placename> is
the city of <st1:city w:st="on">Nain</st1:city>.
It is here that Jesus performed the miracle of raising the dead son of a widow
to life. (Lk.7:11-15). After half an hour, the taxis took us down to our bus.</div>
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<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Mt.</b></st1:placetype><b> <st1:placename w:st="on">Tabor</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></b></st1:place><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h5>
<st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cana</span></u></st1:place><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
From there we rode to <st1:place w:st="on">Cana</st1:place> where Jesus performed the first miracle of turning
water into wine. He did this at the wedding on the request of His mother
St.Mary. (Jn.2:1-11). We got into the church built on the ruins of the wedding
house. The crypt of the church holds a Roman stone jar symbolic of the six jars
in which water turned to wine. A little aside some other symbolic utensils used
in those days are also kept. Young couples come here to celebrate their
wedding. We came out of the church and went to a near by wine shop. Good Mass
wine and wine of other grades are available for sale. Other souvenir items are
also kept for sale. I purchased a few key chains. All items are very costly.
People purchase it only as souvenirs.</div>
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<b>The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Cana</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Nazareth</span></u></st1:place></st1:city><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Our next visit was to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Church</b></st1:placetype><b> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Annunciation</st1:placename></b></st1:place>.
We are in <st1:city w:st="on">Nazareth</st1:city>.
It is a very fertile and green area full of trees and plants. In Jesus’ time,
it was a small place where Joseph and Mary returning from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region> settled
down. (Lk.2:39-40). Now it is a prosperous town. Half of the population is
Muslims. Christians belong to a variety of denominations. There are many
churches and monasteries belonging to these Christians. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Annunciation</st1:placename></st1:place>
we entered is the sixth church, re-built on the spot. It is here that Angel
Gabriel stood and announced that Virgin Mary will conceive Jesus. (Lk. I: 31)
It was constructed by the Roman Pope in 1969. It is the biggest Christian
church in the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle East</st1:place>. Catholics all over
the World sent icons and paintings of St. Mary to adorn the walls of the
church. Therefore, we can see Indian, Asian, Chinese, Japanese, European and
American St. Mary in these pictures. The church floor is below the road level. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
There is another <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Greek Orthodox <b>St.</b></st1:address></st1:street><b> Gabriel <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">church</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Annunciation</st1:placename></st1:place></b>
nearby. We went in. The baptism of a child was going on. On the side of this church,
we see the <b>St. Mary’s well</b> from
which she used to draw water for the family. Tradition is that Angel Gabriel
met her while she was drawing water from this well. If this is true then the
real <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">church</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Annunciation</st1:placename></st1:place> must be this Orthodox
Church and not the one above. There is a stream going out from the well to the
center of <st1:city w:st="on">Nazareth</st1:city>.
A little away, through a glass covered opening and another iron grating covered
opening on the ground, we can see the stream flowing out far below the floor we
were walking.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
There is again the <b>St. Joseph’s Cathedral Church</b> close by.
This is built over the house of the Holy Family. A large fresco on the alter
wall depicts the baptism of Jesus and the Holy Spirit hovering above him as a
dove. A painting in the church shows the carpentry of Joseph. On the floor,
level of the church there is a large opening. Far down below we can see the 2000-year-old
street of the time of Jesus. There is also a grotto of the Holy Family below
the church. Jesus was brought up here. He lived 27 years in this house before
he came out for public service.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jordan River</span></u></st1:place><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We then had our delicious and
sumptuous lunch in Kibbutz Kinnerat. This Kibbutz is famous for dates and
honey. Back on the bus; and it took us to the <st1:place w:st="on">Jordan River</st1:place>.
God did not permit Moses to cross the river to the Promised Land: <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. He was only allowed to see from a distance just
before his death at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>. It was Joshua who,
led the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
horde across the River Jordan. To repeat, this river originates as a small
spring from a cave in Hermon hills. We saw this spot from a distance on the
last day of our Holy Land Tour from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
A hundred yards we walked
through an array of date palms on either side of the road into the welcoming
gates of a hotel cum tourist’s center. The outer door leads us to the banks of
the <st1:place w:st="on">Jordan River</st1:place>. Our expectation about the <st1:place w:st="on">Jordan River</st1:place> gets shattered. Now it is just a rivulet and
more or less stagnant. The water also looks murky and polluted. We walked a few
yards up stream to the place where people come for mass baptism. Pentecostal
Christians come here to baptize new entrants into their belief. They dip the
head of each entrant in <st1:place w:st="on">Jordan River</st1:place>. The
place is called Yardenit.</div>
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Yardenit.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
It is slightly wider here. Here the river
leaves the <st1:placename w:st="on">Galilee</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> to wind its way to the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead
Sea</st1:place> in the south. The riverbank is paved and the bathing place in
the river is fenced for the safety of the pilgrims. Some of us had a dip in the
<st1:place w:st="on">Jordan River</st1:place>. I, Alex, Kunjannamma and Lalitha
went down the steps into the River in knee-deep water. After cooling our legs
and minds, we came up the steps to join the group. There is a changing place
for the bathers, who want privacy. However, it is priced at US $.5 per person. Souvenirs
including bottled <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
water, snacks and soft drinks were available. I saw one or two collecting water
from the river into bottles. But, I am sure that they will throw it away, when
it gets muddier a few hours or days later. Many pilgrims come here thinking
that it is the place where <st1:city w:st="on">St. John</st1:city>
baptized Jesus. (Mk. 1:9). The real spot is further down on the <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> plains where the
river is zigzag, too narrow and often near dry.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Returning from the River, we
entered into the sales wing of the Degania Aleph Kibbutz. Many varieties of
dates fresh, ripe, cured, packed and in bulk were on display. Honey, Olive oil
and a number of edible and souvenir items were there for sale. Some of us
purchased some items. Our tour guide told us that those who want to purchase
olive oil could do so directly from the oil press on our way. </div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></h4>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mount of
Beatitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><u>.<o:p></o:p></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
After spending half an hour in
the shop, we headed to the Mount of Beatitudes. On the right side of the uphill
journey, we could see Magdala, the place of Magdalena Mariam. We soon reached
the small hilltop called the Mount of Beatitudes. It is here that Jesus
preached the Sermon on the Mount. The church of the Beatitudes is situated on
the top of the mount. The church is octagonal and the eight beatitudes are
etched on the eight widow glasses of the cupola. The colonnaded verandah around
the church gives a panoramic view of the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>
and the beautifully gardened surroundings.</div>
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o:title="DSC02177 Mt"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="313" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image072.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1060" width="419" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
Alter of the church
of the Beatitudes</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On our way to the Eden Tiberius
Hotel, the bus stopped before the oil press and a couple of us purchased olive
oil by ordering it. We did not get off the bus. We then went into a <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> products shop. There was a large array of
beautifully packed, mud, salty water and processed products from <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place>. Some of us purchased the soap cakes and creams
produced from the <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> materials. By 5 Pm,
we were in the Hotel. We were requested to be ready by 8 Pm for the “J P Honors
Convocation” meeting in the Hotel.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jerusalem</span></u></st1:place></st1:city><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> Piligrim Convocation. <o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Most of us assembled after
dinner in the specially arranged hall of the hotel for the ceremony of
conferring on pilgrims the honorary degree J P (Jerusalem Pilgrim). It is an A4 size black and white certificate
in thick paper with the painting of the <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>
city on the top and signed by the minister of Tourism of Israel and the Mayor
of the city of <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>. Your name is printed in very bold letters in
the middle. It permits the certificate holder to bear the title”J P” (Jerusalem
Pilgrim)</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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o:title="DSC02183 Meeting to confer JP honour to piligrims"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="313" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image074.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1061" width="419" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
JP Convocation</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Foreigners who come to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> have to report
to the Mayor and pay one U S Dollar per head. In return, he issues a receipt in
the form of this certificate. The tour operators do the formalities and
distribute the certificates to the pilgrims.
We went with the Keli tour operators. Mr. Cherian Kuriakose welcomed
those present in the hall, congratulated, and thanked us for being punctual on
each day and at each tour spot. This enabled him to arrange the entire tour
without missing any planned item of the tour. Then he called each pilgrim and
gave the certificate through V. Rev. Gabriel Ramban of the Pathanapuram Dayara,
the president of the meeting He also gave small cash presents to Mr. David the
driver of the bus and Mr. U Ral (?) the Israeli guide who safely drove and
guided us all the four days in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>. Rembachan the president, Fr. K V Paul,
Principal St. Stephen’s College.Pathanapuram, Fr.Nathaniel Thomas of the
Marthoma Church Manganam Kottyam, me and Mrs. Kunjamma Mathai, Kozhenchery explained the
circumstances that prompted us to take the tour
and thanked the organizers Mr.
Cheri an and Fr. John Sankarathil for the good and detailed arrangements that
made the tour enjoyable. After some discussions and benediction, we went to our
rooms for a good sleep. </div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">18. <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On 22<sup>nd</sup> morning, we
boarded our bus after breakfast. Our entire luggage was tucked in the belle of
the bus. We were leaving Tiberius and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> that
day. First, we went to the area around <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>. In New Testament, the sea is named <st1:place w:st="on">Lake Tiberias</st1:place>. In Old Testament days, it was known as <st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Ginneseret</st1:placename>
or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Kinneret</st1:placename></st1:place> (in the Book of Numbers). It is
the second lowest spot in the World and is 209 meters below the Sea level. <st1:place w:st="on">Dead Sea</st1:place> is the lowest spot. Both are in the Rift valley
caused by geological movement of Earth plates.
While Dead Sea is salty, <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>
is fresh water. Fishing is still the occupation of some people residing in the
area. The lake is only 21 x 13 Km in size with an average depth of 84 ft. Even
now whirl winds some times create tall waves as it happened in the time of
Jesus ( Lk. 8:23)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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id="_x0000_i1062" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:137.25pt;height:184.5pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image075.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0365 capernaum"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="246" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image076.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1062" width="183" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Capernaum</st1:city>
on the edge of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Galeeli</st1:placename></st1:place> was our first
stop. This was the area where Jesus started his ministry. He collected the
fishermen to make them his disciples and “Fishers of Men” (Mat. 4:19). We
alighted and visited the<b> Tabga</b>, the
Fish and Loaves church. This is a small church first built in the fourth
century to commemorate the miracle of Jesus feeding 5000 men and the multitude
with five loaves and two fish. (Mat.14:16-21). </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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id="_x0000_i1063" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:276pt;height:207pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image077.jpg"
o:title="DSC02200 MEANSA CHRISTI Jesus MEETS PETER AFTER RESURRECTION"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="276" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image078.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1063" width="368" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Outside the church, marble
benches are arranged semi circularly for pilgrims to sit and meditate. Inside
the church, there is a marble table. Just under and near that is the <b>Mensa Christi</b> <b>Rock</b>- the Table of Christ. It is here that Jesus ate with the
disciples on the seashore after resurrection. (Jn.21:12-14). Pilgrims kneel and kiss the rock. The history
of this church is written on a plaque with the heading “Church of Heptapegon- The
Seven Springs History”. The latest reconstruction of the church was in 1982. On
the night of the trial of Jesus, Peter denied Jesus thrice. After His resurrection,
Jesus asked Peter thrice whether he loved Jesus to reconfirm his faith in
Jesus. On getting confirmation, Jesus entrusted the care of the followers of
Christ to Peter. Jesus at this place thus reconfirmed the primacy of Peter.
(John.21:1-17). We then went to the seashore; some of us stepping into water.
Someone was preaching outside the Tabga. We came back and sat down to rest.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image079.jpg"
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</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="313" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image080.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1064" width="419" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>In <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Capernaum</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
From there we strolled on to
the ruins of the Jewish Synagogue in which Jesus preached. While other
buildings are in black stone, the Synagogues were built in white limestones.
The foundation, the walls and some of the columns of the old Synagogue are
still majestically standing there. Alex took photos of our group with the
colonnades in the background. Many of the artifacts of the old synagogue are
preserved. St. Peter’s house was near the Synagogue. This house rebuilt by
Queen Helena is also in ruins. It was here that Jesus cured the fever of the
mother-in-law of Peter (Lk. 4:38-39). The earthquake had destroyed all these.
Now the Catholic Church has built a new circular church in that place. It is
opened only for the Catholic pilgrims to celebrate Holy Mass. The ruins of
nearby houses and utensils used in St. Peter’s time are also preserved.
Probably this is the house, the roof tiles of which were removed to drop a
paralyzed man on his bed to be cured by Jesus. (Mrk.2:4). A statue of St. Peter
prominently stands on this site. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
From there we went by 11 Am to
the boat jetty for a ride in the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>.
We sat down in the boat and the boat engine puffed off starting us on our ride.
We sang a song or two. Then the Indian National Flag was hoisted on the boat’s
mast. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image081.jpg"
o:title="DSC02236 National flag hoisted in the boat by alexander Joseph"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="313" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image082.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1065" width="419" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Hoisting the Indian Flag on the boat mast
in the <st1:place w:st="on">Sea of Galilee</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
The tour managers made me to
hoist the flag. We sang the Indian National Anthem when the flag was hoisted. For
over thirty minutes, we were in the boat cruising in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Sea</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Galeeli</st1:placename></st1:place>.
It took us to another jetty of a restaurant. There we had the much-trumpeted
St.Peter’s Fish lunch. We had made a special payment of 15 US Dollars for the
boat ride and the special lunch. This was the only extra payment we had to
give. A large plate-full fried fish looking like pomfret or tilapia was served
with side dishes. It is said to be the same species of the original fish that
was caught by disciples on the command of Jesus and served by Jesus. Hence, it
is still known as St. Peter’s Fish. Rice and vegetables followed as second
serving. After lunch, we were on our bus by 1.30 Pm moving to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>
boarder. We were saying good-bye to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and
thanking God for keeping us all healthy and safe through all the seven days of
the Holy Land Tour. Priests lead us in special thanks giving prayers.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
We were on our last lap of the
tour. In an hour, we reached the Israeli border. The usual security checking
took a long time. We had to lug our belongings from the Israeli bus through the
boarder land. Security checking was rather very strict. We were coming from
Jewish Israel to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region>,
an Arab state. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
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id="_x0000_i1066" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:314.25pt;height:234.75pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image083.jpg"
o:title="DSC02263 in bus through the city of Amman"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="313" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image084.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1066" width="419" /><!--[endif]--></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>In bus on our way to <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename> and then to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Amman</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Airport</st1:placetype></st1:place>
for return to Kerala.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Both were and are at war. One by
one, our papers and passports were checked and cleared. But, they detained the
papers and passport of Prof. Mary Thomas. Their contention was that her name is
in the internet as a terrorist. I know
her from the time she joined CMS College Kottayam as a junior lecturer in the
early 1970s. She was very active in the MGOCSM and the Church. She even
represented our Church once in the WCC. The tour managers had to convince the
border security that Mary is from Kottayam, Kerala and is not the terrorist in
the internet. We lost more than half an hour only for that argument with them. Finally,
we crossed over with our luggage to the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> bus waiting for us on the
other side. We drove through the <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city>
city to the Hill Side Hotel in the town for the last night stay of the tour.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Mt.</span></u></st1:placetype><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></span></u></st1:place><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
23<sup>rd</sup> Sept. Tuesday
was the last day of the <st1:place w:st="on">Holy Land</st1:place> tour. We got
into the bus after breakfast with our entire luggage. We were on our way to the
<st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city> airport
to go home in Kerala. The flight to <st1:state w:st="on">Cochin</st1:state> via
<st1:city w:st="on">Muscat</st1:city> was to
be at 14.30. We need to report to the airport three hours earlier at 11.30 Am. So,
we went to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>. The entrance to the top most point
of the mountain has a gate and two memorials. A pillar in memory of Moses says
the place is Holy. Moses died here. Another is a modern pillar in memory of </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
Millennium’s first visit of Pope of Rome.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1067"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:133.5pt;height:198pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image085.png"
o:title="nebo"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="264" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image086.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1067" width="178" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on"><b>Mt.</b></st1:placetype><b> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></b></st1:place><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1068"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:112.5pt;height:149.25pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image087.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0019 holylandtour-Jordan-Mt"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="199" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image087.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1068" width="150" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Memorial to Moses<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1069"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:111pt;height:147.75pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image088.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0013 holylandtour-Jordan-Mt"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="197" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image088.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1069" width="148" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Memorial of Pope’s visit<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
From the top of the mountain,
there is a panoramic view on the western side of Sea of Galilee, <st1:city w:st="on">Jericho</st1:city> and the <st1:placename w:st="on">Jordan</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Valley</st1:placename> up to the Dead Sea, <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city>. One Km to the east of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>
we can see the spring of Moses where water gushed out when Moses struck at the
rock with his staff. It is pointed out as the place where a lone tree stands
far down in the valley.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Moses died somewhere on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>.
He was not allowed to go to the <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
promised to be given to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore,
God allowed Moses to see the land from the top of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Mt.</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Nebo</st1:placename></st1:place>.
Then he died and was buried by God. None knows the burial spot. (Deuteronomy.
34:6) </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
However, memorial Churches were
built on the mount from 4<sup>th</sup> century. The Franciscan church and
Monastery built in the 18<sup>th</sup> century are now in ruins. They are being
renovated. We went to the site and took a number of photos. At the pinnacle of
the mount there is a <b>Metal Serpentine Cross</b>
in memory of the bronze serpent that Moses carried to the desert and the cross
on which Jesus was crucified After taking photos of all these places we
returned to our bus and moved on to the Amman Air port.</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1070"
type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:224.25pt;height:297pt'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\user\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\02\clip_image089.jpg"
o:title="IMG_0027 holylandtour-Jordan-Mt"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" height="396" src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/user/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtmlclip1/02/clip_image090.jpg" v:shapes="_x0000_i1070" width="299" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>Metal Serpent<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
.Our <st1:place w:st="on">Holy
land</st1:place> tour thus ended. It was a tour that filled us with more faith
in Christianity and the teachings of Jesus. The tour imprinted in our minds the
supreme sacrifice of Jesus for the emancipation of Mankind from the sins. Jesus
was showing a new way to get immediate peace and happiness for those who seek
it. Even the worst sinner can attain this peace by repentance for the sins and
loving everyone and everything around him as himself. He promised instant
Heaven for the thief on the cross on His right because he repented his sins.
Jesus taught humanity that sacrificing oneself for the sake of others around is
the supreme evidence of loving others as you. He manifested it by sacrificing
himself on the Cross. Such self-sacrificing love, if practiced by any one gives
happiness and solace not only to the person giving such love, but all others
getting that love and peace. One need not wait for successive rebirths to get
this Nirvana or Moksha... While successive rebirth is the method of escape from
sins in certain other religions, Christ gave us an instant solution of
repentance as the best method to relieve us from sins of commission or omission
done willfully or inadvertently. Christ gave us a sure way of complete escape
from our sins through repentance and penance</div>
<h5 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12pt;">19. Tour in UAE<o:p></o:p></span></u></h5>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Though UAE and its <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city> is not part of Holy Land, I feel that I should not
deny you my perceptions about <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>
and its “Babel-Towerism”</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Our tour friends and group
mangers went for security check into the Amman Air port for their flight to <st1:state w:st="on">Cochin</st1:state> via <st1:city w:st="on">Muscat</st1:city><span style="color: red;">. </span>Alex and I waited. Our flight to Sharjah in UAE was
at 15.30. We went in for security check by 14.00 hrs. Since the passengers that
day to Sharjah were very few, Air Arabia de-routed us to Sharjah via <st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city> in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:country-region>.
A guide took us through another door to the aircraft. It started westward to <st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city> on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mediterranean
Sea</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Coast</st1:placetype></st1:place>
at 15.40 hrs. <span style="color: red;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city> is a big city on the seaside of the
Lebanon Hills. Multi-storied clusters of buildings could be seen from the Air
Plane on the slopes of the hill. At <st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city>,
there was a 40 minutes stay for passengers to alight and board the Plane. From <st1:city w:st="on">Beirut</st1:city>
we re-started eastward at 17.30 hrs to Sharjah. We were in Sharjah at 20.30
hrs. Raphael Manjooran and Maria my grand daughter came to receive us. Since we
four were transit passengers with heavy luggage, Bobu their brother-in-law also
came with his car. We reached Raphael’s house by 21.30 hrs. Bobu helped us to
bring our luggage to Raphael’s flat higher up in the building. Of course, the
lift did all the lifting. We had a quick wash, dinner and went to bed.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
U A E.</div>
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<br /></div>
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UAE (<st1:country-region w:st="on">United
Arab Emirates</st1:country-region>) is a federation of small states of <st1:city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>, Sharjah, <st1:place w:st="on">Ajman</st1:place>, Umm al Qaywayn, Ra’s al Khayamah and Al Fujayrah.
Excepting the last one, all these are seashore city-states in the <st1:place w:st="on">Persian Gulf</st1:place>. Therefore, all of them have beeches and
that of <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>
and Abu Dabi are famous. Abu Dabi is the capital. Both are modern cities with
many high-rise buildings and hotels. Dirham is their currency equivalent to
around 12 Indian rupees. Both are famous
for duty free shopping. <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>
is the center for commerce and trade. Plenty of Indians work in the <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city> offices.
Residential accommodation is very costly in <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>. Many stay in Sharjah and commute the
20 Km distance in the morning and evening. Raphael also stays in Sharjah and
work in <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>.
Because of traffic jam, it takes one and a half to two hours to reach <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>.</div>
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">20. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dubai</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></u></h4>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On the morning of 24<sup>th</sup>
Raphael went to the office and we took rest at home. He returned around 6 Pm.
We got ready and went to <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>.
We first went to the Mall of Emirates, a seven-storied super market. The first
four floors are the car parking area. You can take the car up to the fourth floor
to find a suitable parking lot. The three upper floors are all shops operated
by franchisees of internationally known branded goods. There are also plenty of
food courts. Vacant shop spaces are waiting for more franchisees. When fully
occupied and completed this mall is expected to be the biggest in the World.
Stairs lifts and escalators move up or down carrying the visitors to the
different floors. Like many others moving around, we also went sight seeing the
shops. Very few were seen purchasing anything. We entered some dress shops and
assessed the price of the displayed items. Most of them were priced high. On
our return from there, we got into Carrefour, another supermarket and purchased
a few items. After eating in a food court, we returned to our residence. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>On the 25<sup>th,</sup></b> Raphael took leave and took us in the
morning to the Sharjah aquarium. It opened recently in June 2008. There is variety in the specimens. But, it is
in its infancy. By noon, we went on special invitation to the flat of Ammukutty
in Rala in Sharjah. She is Kunjannamma’s sister Sosamma’s daughter. She is a
pathologist in the hospital. We had a very luxurious and delicious lunch. Then
we went to Susan’s house on the south edge of <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>. She is the Chartered accountant of a
construction company. We met her mother baby-sitting for her new child. Susan
returning from her shopping later joined us.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On our way home, we got into
the Lulu center to make some final purchases. The aim was to give some presents
to Maria, child and Raphael. We searched for some dresses. We found a few items
for Raphael and the child. We also purchased some toys for the child. After
ransacking our brains and discussions, we finally found out a beautiful cutlery
set. Though it was a bit costly, it was worth purchasing. It was a complete set
for a full table of a dozen diners. The set came in its own preserving box. We
then went to the confectionery and food corner and purchased chocolates and
dried fruits of different varieties to be taken to Kerala. While we were in UAE
presents for Achu, Amy, Biju and Beena were purchased on all three days. We
also went for two synthetic pillows that expand when its cover is broken- a
novelty in Kerala. Because of the too many items including the pillows, we had
to purchase a new bag. Alex persuaded us to purchases a three level folding bag
costing around Rs.700. When all the folds are opened it becomes a 4 feet tall
sack that can contain quite a cargo. After visiting some more places and purchases,
we returned to our home in the night. Packing all our things into the bags
engaged us well into the night.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Palm
Jumeiraha</div>
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<br /></div>
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Burg Al Arab</div>
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<br /></div>
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o:title="Dubai city tower"/>
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<div align="center" class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Burg <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dubai</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Next day 26<sup>th</sup> Friday
was our last day in UAE. Being a holiday for Arab countries, we went in the
morning itself for sight seeing. We passed through Sharjah Gold Shook, Sharjah
lagoon, Cornish center and moved on to Palm Jumeirah. We went through a street,
which was a barren area in 1990. Now it is a cluster of very many high-rise
structures and a very busy center. <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>
is famous for high-rise buildings. New constructions were coming up day by day.
It is said that 15 to 25% of all the cranes for lifting construction materials
of the World are now working in <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>.
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
It is a crazy city aspiring to
be the first in many aspects. Burg Al Arab, in <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city> is the World’s highest seven star
hotel. It has a cross like appearance on the top. Look at the picture above.
From another angle, it is a cross. This created a lot of hot blood for Arabs.
The architects designed it for balancing the structure. There is a helipad on
its top. It is World’s highest hotel complex.
Palm Jumeirah scheme is a grand scheme to create reclaimed islands in
the sea in the shape of palm trees with leafs. On the sides of the main road and
the roads on the leaf islands, modern buildings are being constructed for
residential stay, hotels, entertainments and whatnot.” Palm Jumeirah has
everything you need to enjoy a wonderful holiday break. World famous hotel
names, amazing tourist attractions, luxury fashion and shopping malls are
starting to open up. Whether you just want to relax or immerse yourself in an
exciting world of leisure and entertainment, this is a truly inspirational
holiday destination.” Three such palm tree islands are planned. A fourth Globe
shaped islands with all the countries of the World-shaped islands and buildings
on them within the Globe set up is also planned. The first palm tree has been
completed. The picture on the left is the first completed palm tree. The two
others are under construction. Each new palm tree construction is bigger than
the previous.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
On one leaf island is the
famous Hotel Atlantis .It is the biggest seven star hotel just being completed.
We went to the sea front of it. Suits are as costly as UAE D 2500 for a day. One
such suite was completely destroyed by fire due to short circuit just two days
prior to our visit. That was also the day of the formal opening of the Hotel.
They spent US $ 20 million just for the inauguration of this Hotel complex</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
However, the most astonishing
structure is the <st1:placename w:st="on">Dubai</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype>
(Berg Dubai).Third picture on the right above is the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place>.
It is designed for four hundred floors in a 2400 meter high (2.4 KM high or
equal to 7874 ft high) building with a central bullet train lift of 200 Km /h
speed. The building has a central core tower with six outer buildings connected
to the central building at every hundredth floor. The interconnection ensures
stability to the building. They have already finished 800 meters of over 270
floors. Plans have been drawn to raise it to 1200 meters. The idea of the ruler
Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum is to retain it as the tallest in the world. If any
building equals it in height, the plan is to add immediately new floors to the
city tower to make it taller. The building is designed to withstand pendulum
swings in strong wind. Now it is the tallest in the world. The World recession
of 2008 is catching up. Over supply of property spaces and housing
accommodations has become the central problem of the recession. People who
invested in the hope of staying in these constructions are abandoning their
dreams. Will <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city> end as “<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Babel</st1:placename></st1:place>”?
</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
After seeing and taking a few
photographs of Atlantis hotel we returned home. In the afternoon, we packed up
our entire luggage and were in the Sharjah Air port at 5.30 Pm for our flight
to <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city>.
After bidding fare well and thanks to all including Ammukutty who came to see
us off, we went for security check up. We two reached <st1:city w:st="on">Trivandrum</st1:city> by 2.30 Am on 27<sup>th</sup>. A
porter stepped in to help me to pick up my boxes from the escalator to a
trolley. I did not object. I contracted and got a pre-paid Taxi. The porter
then guided us to a taxi. He loaded the luggage into the taxi’s dickey and to
the back seat. We came home by 03.00 Am. Johnson the watcher woke up and
unloaded the bags to the house. Our foreign tour of the <st1:place w:st="on">Middle
East</st1:place> thus ended. We covered <st1:country-region w:st="on">Bahrain</st1:country-region>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>, <st1:city w:st="on">Palestine</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> and UAE states of
Sharjah and <st1:city w:st="on">Dubai</st1:city>.
We thank God for guiding us throughout the tour and safely returning us to our
home without any health irritants </div>
<h1 align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">END<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
And in the end it’s not the
years in your life that count.<br />
It’s the life in your years.”—<b>Abraham
Lincoln<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Web sites referred</b> Christian Travel Study Program, Walking in Their
Sandals, Biblewalks.com, and Catholic Encyclopedia.</div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Appendix -1 Tour Members<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
It was KELI tours of Cherian
Kuriakose, Mumbai and Rev. Fr. John Sankarathil, Devalokam Aramana, Secretary,
Marthamariam Samajam of our Church, conducted the tour. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
These two plus 45 others of the
party were: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Ecclesiasts: V. Rev. Remban
Gabriel, Fr. Nathaniel Thomas, Fr. K V Paul, Sr. Helen and Sr. Persis of
Pathanapuram Dayara, Fr.K.E Mathai, Fr. Simon Scaria, Fr. Dr. Joseph Thomas of
Manganam, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Mr & Mrs. Varghese Mathew,
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Paul, Mr & Mrs. Sunny Thomas, Mr. & Mrs. K C
John, Mr.& Mrs. Mathew Daniel,, Aleyamma Kurien, Thankamma Mathew, Shyni
Jacob, Jim Nanthiyattu, Mr. & Mrs. C T Kuruvila, Mr. & Mrs.T M
Varghese, Mr. & Mrs. K P Mathai, Saramma Panicker, Santhamma Jacob,
Leelamma George, Mary Thomas, Renmany punnen, V T Yohannan, Mr. & Mrs.
Joseph K Alexander, Mr. & Mrs. Alex Jose, Mr & Mrs. George Joseph, T C
Abraham, Mr & Mrs. Jacob Varghese,
Dr. & Mrs. M A Ittyachan, Mary Varghese , Elizabeth Eapen, and Dr. &
Mrs. K C George. </div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
We with the
pyramids in the back<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1075" type="#_x0000_t75"
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<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/J%20K%20A%20&%20others%20Mail%20STEPHEN%20%20%20etc%20photos/CLIMBING%20JERUSALEM-photos-%20ONLY%20For%20printing.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">*</span></span></a> Bullet marks
on the front wall are the remnants of the 1967 Israel-Jordan war.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-28322317282945097292014-03-06T22:55:00.003-08:002014-03-06T22:55:37.676-08:00ELECTORAL REFORMS- CHALLENGES AHEAD<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ELECTORAL
REFORMS- CHALLENGES AHEAD.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prof.
Joseph K. Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> India is the largest functioning democracy holding
regular elections for the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, State Assemblies and local
self government bodies. World is amazed by these systematic, regular and
peaceful periodical elections. Despite, Election Commission is faced by certain
challenging issues in the conduct of these elections. It is worried as to how to
make the elections fairer and free, so that even the most marginalized in the
society can cast his vote without fear and as his right. Of the many, I attempt
to cite three issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Unfair
role of unaccounted money.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the phenomenal rise in the number
of the citizenry in each State the nations have moved from the direct democracy
concept of the 6th century BC Athens and Sparta to elected representative
parliamentary democracy of Britain and now India. In India a parliamentary
candidate has to meet and woo over a million voters in his constituency spread
over the length and breadth of it. He has to move quickly within the limited
number of days from corner to corner meetings to address them, personally meet
each voter to persuade him/her to vote for him, give his photo, pamphlets about
his political promises and leave remember cards at their doors. This is a tall
order requiring paid army (voluntary?) of workers, vehicles, printed material, and
microphones and so on. Election campaigning is very expensive. So he has to
raise by hook or crook money and receive it from businesspersons and corporates
(for whom this is investment for out of priority benevolence from authorities
thorough the MPs) to be spent as unaccounted amounts. Thus it is our would-be
MPs and MlAs that originate corruption and create a parallel black money
economy According to transparency International India is one of the most corrupted
country with 124<sup>th</sup> rank among the 175 countries evaluated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Criminalization
of politics<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the unaccounted massive money power and muscle
power “note for vote” bribing, rigging, intimidation of voters, impersonation,
providing conveyance, paid media coverage and even maintaining goonda squads to
snatch ballot papers, ballot boxes, caste & religion based candidature and
voting and creation of chaos and riots
are rampant. Mistakes in the ballot paper used to be a trigger for trouble. Thanks
for the electronic voting machine which solved many of such problems. What
shall we do overcome this criminalization processes? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> 3 <b>Criminal MPs and MLAs.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 16.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many
of the sitting elected representatives have criminal background and pending
cases in the courts. How to purge them from the Parliament and State Assemblies?
Vorha Committee reported in 1993 the nexus between criminal gangs, police,
bureaucracy and politicians. In 2009 Association for democratic reforms
reported 15 % of the candidates in the general election are criminals with
pending cases in the courts... This is true of all political parties big and
small.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 16.5pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A,
Can we prevent them from contesting the elections? How?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> B, What about the sitting criminals of the
elected bodies? How to purge them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> C. How to prevent selection of
candidates based on caste and religion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">May
we get some insights on these issues? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Free
and fair election and responsible political parties accountable to the
electorate is imperative for a healthy democracy. Politicians should honestly
work above caste, creed, religion or gender considerations. Fir this, perhaps over and above the minimum
age, some other qualifying benchmarks like academic skills, lack of criminal
background may be insisted to contest the elections<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jai Hind <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">END <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-88541945424232096102013-11-27T22:53:00.001-08:002013-11-27T22:53:30.260-08:00FDI IN INDIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>FDI
IN INDIAN ECONOMIC GROWTH<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Prof.
Joseph K. Alexander, Chairman, IIPA KRB.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Economic growth</b> is not
mere quantifiable increase in GDP or PCI, but also changes in the modes and
mores of production, exchange and distribution of economic goods and hence, the
life style of the nation. Increased Investment
in infrastructure is the basic need for rapid growth. Lack of it is the real
impediment of capital deficit developing economies. Dependence on FDI is
imperative.<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> FDI (capital) is
international </span>coming for investment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> <b>Y= C+ I+ G+ (X-M).</b> Y= GDP= Consumption+
Investment+ Govt. spending +X-M (export income –import payments). X-M can
become positive by more export of goods, or human resources (remittances by our
NRIs) or FDI. In this FDI is net of outward and inward FDI. Net positive FDI in
effect is an injection of foreign income into the production processes of the
host economy. Increase in NRI remittances is also an injection into C or I of
host economy. Both will increase demand for the factors of production. Employment
and income will get increased impetus. A multiplier increase in income is set
in motion. This new impetus cause a chain of growth till it peters down as a
ripple in a pool of water. Broad money velocity of (Re) in India is 20.3. FDI
of US $.10.1 billion can create US $. 211.12 billion new income in India. Hence
all developing countries welcome FDI. China registered phenomenal growth in the
last few decades with FDI. In fact they outstripped USA in the first half 2012 in
receiving FDI of US $ 59.1 billion against USA’s 57.4 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>FDI in USA</b> is FII
(Portfolio Investment: stocks & bonds). Confidence in their dollar makes surplus
funds all over the World to escalate into USA as safe deposit. This money
through financial intermediation of NBFI percolates into corporate industrial
enterprises and props up new production and Industrial growth of USA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In colonial days
Britain used FDI investment in the Indian colony to cause economic drain of our
resources and wealth into England. Anti-colonial ideology and fear still linger
in the minds of some who refuse to open their minds to the new trends and
methods of globalised World. They oppose and show hair splitting arguments to show
up dangers of FDI like that of Wall Mart in retail trade, insurance, and such
areas. Their intrusion sidelines the unorganized masses. They lose their
employment & income. This is true to an extent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This anxiety is due to ignorance
and fear of the unknown. All economic activity is for the expected future
income. So there is risk. You may fail or may not get the reward you expected. Let
us open our mind to the phenomenal growth achieved by China in the last 40
years by pole-waltzing using the FDI pole to jump over the developed world
countries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Economic<b> growth
essentially means changes</b> in the methods of production. Old are given up for
the more efficient new methods. We moved for power from the water wheel to
steam engine, to electric motors, and to solar energy and atomic power. In this
process all employed in the old methods lost their employment and found new
work in the new technology based activities. This change over agony is
inevitable in every new birth of anything including new technology. It is
elimination of the uneconomic methods and induction of more efficient new one and
hence cheaper goods. Employment and income all over the World has only
increased by these changes of modes of production. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The <b>Mom-Pop shops </b>and corner
retailers are intermediaries who thrive by increasing the price of goods as
retail margin. This makes goods costlier. Retail chain intermediaries increase
price of goods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Supermarkets</b> on the
other hand induce vertical chain production from raw materials to finished
goods under one roof. Often they do it for themselves like the LuLu
Supermarkets of our Yusuf Ali. The massive production with raw materials &
intermediate goods & services procured from the cheapest corners of the
World and using large scale economies of production make goods cheaper and of
better quality. International integration of production processes make retail
price less than that of the Mom-pop shops. Those who oppose this new production
processes are short-sighted and against economic growth. Do they have some
vested interests in retaining under development? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The massive capital
movements and flow of raw materials, of intermediate goods and human services across
international borders augment production and income all over the World.<b> If any
country isolate itself</b> from this, for preserving their old worldly mores and
modes of production they will become marginalized (like Old Burma) and remain
under developed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In India <b>Dr. Man Mohan
Sing opened the economy</b> for FDI in 1991 under FEMA. Then FDI was less than US $
one billion’. True he was cautious in restricting it to limited industries and
a low level of 24 % of those corporates. Gradually he increased this share with
great restrictions. This shows his attempt to appease the opposition and his
democratic ways. Now because of consistent current account deficit due to heavy
imports POL and Gold compel India to seek more opening up for FDIs to cover the
deficit. Now, after USA, India and China are the two higher FDI receivers.
India received US $. 13.7 billion in 2012 and 10.4 billions in the first half
of 2013. Estimate of total stock of FDI in India in 2010 was US $ 1911,000 million
(UNCTAD) and 71,226 million (by CIA WORLD FACE BOOK).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">India’s economic growth
of the last two decades is proof of the pudding. Despite our restrictions on
FDI entry and special care of the marginalized, we increased our GDP and PCI
many fold of what they were in 1990. Similarly the increase in the Annual
growth rate of Kerala from3.5 % of 2000 to 10.6 % of 2007, or rise of PCI from
Rs. 21,548 of 1999 to over Rs. 51,000 in
2012 also prove this. In Kerala increased NRI remittances triggered the boost
of our GDP and PCI. <b>This is the economics of FDI.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">END<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-37493649461353762992013-11-11T22:42:00.001-08:002013-11-11T22:42:49.529-08:00FOOD SECURITY IN INDIA: ISSUES<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By Prof. Joseph K
Alexander<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Indian Institute of Public Administration
theme paper prepared for its Annual conference in Oct 2013 before the signing
of the Food Security Act on12 th Sept 2013 analyses availability, accessibility
and nutrition (absorption) of the food by the 1.3 billions of India. Since
independence in1947 the cereal production in India increased from the 50 m.t to
245 m.t per annum and <b>increased food
availability</b>. This reduced poverty
line (calorie consumption) from around 60 % to 25 %.of the population.
Production of pulses, oil, dairy & poultry products are still far below the
consumption standards in developed countries. The Green Revolution days saw
increase in Investment in the Agriculture sector. The wide spread use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides polluted and also depleted the fertility of
the soil .The decrease in yields decreased the investment trends in Agriculture.
Net result is recent deceleration in the growth of the Agrl sector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The increase in economic growth and
income of the people increased their <b>accessibility
to food</b>. The universal PDS since 1960’s helped the poor also to have some
food. The New Economic policy of 1991 changed the PDS to TPDS (Targeted Public
Distribution System) to reduce its financial cost. World Bank imposed it on us
as a condition for aid. This not only siphoned food ration to black market but
also reduced availability of food to the marginalized. It also increased the
administrative cost of the Ration system. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Regarding the <b>nutrition level</b> of the food intake of the marginalized poor, the
school children, girls, pregnant and nursing mothers and infants are
deplorable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In view of the above observations the India
Food Security <b>Act 2013 is a bold jump</b>
into the financial quagmire of revenue, fiscal and current account deficits of
the country. The cost of the scheme is
estimated to be Rs.1.30 lakh crores per annum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Nevertheless the Act is a positive move
to answer the lacunae in the food security system. It’s
provisions: subsidized food grain a right for 67 per cent of population; Act
offers rice at Rs 3, wheat at Rs 2 and coarse cereals at Rs 1 per kg to the
poor; Antyodaya Anna Yojana will be given 35 kg of food grains p.m.; Pregnant
women and lactating mothers would receive maternity benefit of Rs 6,000; Children
aged six months to 14 years will get take-home rations or hot cooked food; etc
are good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Yet I am worried<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1. In quantity constrained Indian
economy supply of Govt. services are always far less than their demand .Corruption
is inherent. The subsidized food is siphoned off into the black-market. The
officials, ever greedy politicians who want funds for election campaigns and
the food needy public will make the Act a mockery<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2. The Act is a hurried ill prepared
political move to face the impending election<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3. The country will not be able to bear
the heavy subsidy. It will be difficult even to raise funds by internal or
external borrowing. The TPDS itself was costlier than PDS system. Now we have
to specially cater the APL. BPL but also the special Andyodaya groups, school
children up to 14 years old, girls,
pregnant women, nursing mothers and infants, who all require special
provisions. The administrative cost of identifying these categories and weekly
catering them is going to be herculean task involving heavy cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">4. The multi-party coalitions with their
fluid alignments-based competitive politics make each coalition group that come
to power to make it a point to please their ranks. So everyone in power like
ek-din-ka-sultan vies with one another to please his rank and file. UDF and LDF
coalitions also do the same. Politicians in power prompt their mob caucuses to organize
show of samarams, jathas, sit-in-strike etc to hoodwink the public and grant
their request. Gibbons in his book “Decline & Fall of the Roman
Empire" gives ten reasons for Rome’s decline. Of them one is the enormous
excess expenditure to please the patrician mass of Roman citizens. Our Indian
democracy also is tending towards to be a mobo-cracy of mounting subsidies and
doles leading to heavy revenue deficits. Mrs. Thatcher, the new Prime Minister faced
a similar situation in England and saved the country by drastic cut of such
expenditures. Unless we do the same we may soon face the Roman situation. These are some issues to be solved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">END<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-17076748929975704672013-10-28T06:30:00.000-07:002013-10-28T06:40:29.129-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><b>World Peace</b><o:p></o:p></span></u><br />
<u><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"><b><br /></b></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Summary of a speech by Prof. Joseph K. Alexander at
“Towards establishing a Department of Peace in Sovereign states” discussion on
3<sup>rd</sup> March 2006 at Press Club Hall
Trivandrum organized by Indian Institute of Public Administration and
Gandhi Media Centre and Centre for Gandhian Studies, University of Kerala. He
is an Economist and chairperson of IIPA Kerala Regional Branch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Pre- Society man.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Man is a social animal. Individually he is a bundle
of unlimited material and immaterial wants: a self-seeker, a fighter with any to
satisfy his wants. His whims and fancies drive him to many escapades. So his
life in the Pre-society stage was “brutish, nasty and short” The cave man used
to do whatever he thought was good to him. Hazlitt in his essay “On going a
Journey” says that if you are alone in a train compartment, you can do whatever
you want: to go naked, to dance or even stand on your head. But if there are
others in the compartment, you cannot do these things. There are hundreds /
thousands in the society including the environment demanding opportunity for
self expression, protection and preservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Post-Society Stage.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">When one becomes a member of a society, there are a
lot of rules to obey. Basic nature of social life is desoverignised individual.
He gives up a part of his absolute sovereignty or freedom to the society, so
that the society can be formed and man can live peacefully together. The Social
contract theory of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau highlight this aspect. Man in his
different facets of life is a member of different social organizations. As a
political animal, he has to obey the laws of state, as member of the religious
group he has to keep the commands of the religion, as a member of the club he
has to keep to the rules of the club and so on. In other words peaceful existence
in social life warrants self-control and obedience to the relevant rules and
practices of the organizations of which he is member. Self controls make man a
free animal to do whatever he wants inside his orbit. So he escapes even
inadvertently hitting the neighbor’s nose with elbow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Globalised World.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">With the onslaught of information technology and
modern methods of mass communication the whole world has shrunk to a tiny ball.
We come to know whatever and whenever anything happen in any part of it. In
this globalised world, peaceful existence demand obedience by all States or
nation states to the rules of co-existence. In other words each nation has to
have self-control and respect for other entities. Thus world peace can come
about only when each individual, each family, each society, and nation-state
impose self discipline, respect the rights of other similar social and
political units and keep the rules of the game of world peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Visionaries.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It is the imperfections and inadequacies of the
present day social life that led many visionaries to dream about alternative
ideal society and how to organize it. It is the concept of perfection inherent
in human mind juxtaposed to his imperfections that prompted thinkers to imagine
about a better social structure to lead homosapiens to a happy, prosperous and
peaceful life. These dreams were social, political, economic, religious and
whatnot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Sir Thomas Moore’s Utopia, Plato’s Ideal State,
Marx’s Communist society, Gandhiji’s Grama Swaraj, Buddhism of Guthama Budha,
Maha Vir’s Jainism, Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and God’s (Moses) Ten
Commandments and love thy neighbor as thyself, Bhgawat Githa in Ramayana are
all examples of these dreams..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Self-restraint is the precept.</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">All these dreams have this basic approach. Man must
restrain his instincts of absolute sovereignty for the sake of peaceful
existence with others. Respect and recognition of the rights of one’s
neighbours is the essence of social life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Attempts<span style="font-weight: normal;"> to bring international Peace started lately with
the Peace Bureau originated by the peace Congress in Rome in 1891. A number of
pacifists groups aspired for a peaceful existence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
But the militant imperialists<span style="font-weight: normal;"> brought the First World
War. At the end of it the World agreed to create the League of Nations to end
the World war forever. The old Peace
Bureau was given a decent burial in this </span><b>League of Nations.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
Even the League<span style="font-weight: normal;"> could not bring peace.
Various peace movements that sprang up to counter the spirit of militarism even
before the First World War specially spearheaded by the socialists also
professed the peace move. But these very socialists were forced to abandon
their professed ideal during the Second World War when they aligned with allies
to defeat Germany and its Axis powers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>UNO</b>. <span style="font-weight: normal;">The end of the Second World War brought about a
number of international organizations like the World Bank, IMF and The United Nations
Organization to end the War forever. USA led the world in these organizations
as champion of world peace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Meanwhile the </span>cold war<span style="font-weight: normal;"> between the West and the East led by Soviet Union
ended with the dissolution of USSR under the leadership of Gorbechov and his
glasnost and perestroika.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The question was must the post -cold war
international system evolve according the play of power and interests of the
nations? Would the bipolar world eventually end in uni-polar world led by UNO
or would it fragment into a multi-polar-system with new threats and issues on
ethnic and regional terrorism and violence?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If we look at the world after 1996, the prospect of
world peace in a uni-polar system is bleak enough to create disbelievers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In the Middle East</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> the Palestinian-Israeli conflict remains unsolved.
In the former Yugoslavia wide scale fighting between Serbs and ethnic Albanians
in Kosovo in 1998 later forced Milosevic to accept a peace plan. But the issue
still simmers, though he was extradited to Netherlands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>In Northern Ireland</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> the Belfast agreement in 1998 was signed by Ireland
and Northern Ireland. The issues of decommissioning the para-military groups
continue to undermine the agreement. The British Hong Kong was returned to
China in 1997 on a formula of “one country two systems’. But now China is
forcing Taiwan to endorse one China policy. In 1998 India and Pakistan started
a series of nuclear tests despite the opposition of nuclear powers. On the
other hand the two Koreas have agreed to cooperate <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Economic globalization</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> brought benefits and
cancers. The IMF, WB and WTO are now considered by the underdeveloped countries
as machines to exploit the weaker nations of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<b>These all show how difficult it is to bring about
peace.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">A mere opening and operating a special department of
peace in U N O or wherever else cannot do much in bringing world peace. It </span>can serve at best
as an educative process<span style="font-weight: normal;"> towards world peace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoBodyText" style="text-align: center;">
<b>END</b><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-16989323883125144142013-07-22T08:04:00.002-07:002013-07-22T23:58:41.273-07:00IS THERE A SOUL? DOES EVERYTHING END WITH DEATH<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>IS THERE A SOUL? DOES EVERYTHING END WITH DEATH</b></div>
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<b>PROF. JOSEPH K. ALEXANDER</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>PART 1</b></div>
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<b>LIFE AFTER DEATH</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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DEAR DR. LEILA,</div>
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Your 90th year worry and questions raked my brain. Here is an attempted answer in three parts.</div>
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Sending you the first. Rest I shall send later.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Recently I met a woman from USA. She is the daughter of an agency aiding the Mar Gregorios</div>
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Rehabilitation Centre (MGRC), Trivandrum, of which I am a founder member and a Vice</div>
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president. She came to oversee our work. Her original roots are from Vakathanam near</div>
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Changanachery. Incidentally I asked her in our person to person talk “In which church you go”?</div>
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<b>She said “church? I do not”</b>.</div>
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Then I changed the subject.</div>
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This is the new fashion of the new civilizations of the West: European and American. Some</div>
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others imitate. This is an attempt to pose before others that one is logical, learned and modern</div>
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than Einstein and most of the scientists.</div>
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Man</h2>
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Man is born with a bigger brain and reasoning mind than other creations. His inquisitiveness</div>
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questions everything. The <b>champions of individualism</b> like Immanuel Kant, Hegel, Karl Marx and</div>
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others argued that individual conscience or reason is the only moral rule. Reasoning and</div>
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conviction by one’s senses alone is truth and anything other is untrue. This enquiry made man</div>
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to unravel and discover some of the secrets of nature. The scientific progress, the industrial</div>
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revolution and modern amenities of life resulted. This is the positive achievement of this</div>
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reasoning-journey of man.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Despite his high intellectual abilities <b>man is still an ignoramus</b>, puny and frail creature against</div>
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the still undiscovered ocean of knowledge (God), and devastating ability of nature. The</div>
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scorching sun, fire, water, floods and Tsunamis, thunder and lightning, mountain heights and</div>
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extreme depths of the sea, the falling heavenly bodies that crush earth’s surfaces, biting insects</div>
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and wild carnivorous animals make your impotency against them fearsome. Man was and is in</div>
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continuous fear of death. Realizing the might of these natural phenomena the primitive man</div>
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adored and worshiped them. Thus the sun god, wind god, mountain god, river god, serpent god</div>
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and other nature-gods came to be worshipped. <b>Fear of death is the origin of religion</b>.</div>
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The <b>concept of an all-knowing superpower</b> mightier than him is inherent in man. It originated in</div>
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him before his birth. It is an intellectual input. It is part of him. He has both body and mind. In</div>
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fact there are two elements in human being: cosmic force and spiritual force. His body is</div>
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composed of elements of the universe like water, air and earth. With death the body</div>
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disintegrates into these elements. Spiritual force originates from God. Where to go?</div>
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The soul is the individual. It is part of the Universal spirit. It is part of God. Its desires manners,</div>
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habituated likes and dislikes are all performed by the body. The body is the vehicle that carries</div>
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him—his mind, spirit or soul.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The body and the mind (soul) are two different things. <b>They come from different sources.</b></div>
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While body is part of the cosmos, mind is part of spirit that comes from the spiritual force, Viz;</div>
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God. Mind is eternal, unique, and independent of body and is free. Body obeys the orders of</div>
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the mind. Body helps the individual (soul) to perform the manifestations of the soul. The spirit is</div>
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the mind of man performing through the brain and its executors: the hands, legs and different</div>
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parts of the body. The existence of mind (soul) is truth.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The intellect of the mind has an inherent capacity to differentiate and discard bad or unwanted</div>
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things. The mind (soul) has an innate ability to recognize evil, opposed to good. It has a natural</div>
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ability to evade the evil, though some overcome this tendency by habit, heredity or nature of</div>
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endowed genes. Similarly the body inhales air, receives oxygen, discards carbon dioxide or</div>
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ingress food, accepts its nutrition, and discards the waste.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The <b>spiritual forces do not die </b>with the body. Mind, memory and sense perceptions linger a</div>
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few more moments or time and slowly escape from the earthly body. Men believe that the spirit</div>
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separated from body linger for some days (forty), in the ambience of its former life. This belief is</div>
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from early times. We continue the rituals of death even in post modern society.</div>
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This mind from the time the child is conceived in the womb adds information to its already</div>
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existing genitival endowments (genes). This gene structure undergoes a slow process of</div>
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acquiring new behavior patterns through new habits, experiences and knowledge it learns in life.</div>
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This may make it more or less good or devilish. At the time of a new birth in the family the</div>
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reformed genes pass on to the new-born. The character, manners, beliefs, sum total of your</div>
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experiences in past life are passed on through your genes to the next generation. Science calls</div>
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it <b>heredity</b>. Hindu religion calls it successive<b> rebirth</b> of the soul to escalate to its creator through</div>
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a series of rebirth to higher and higher forms of life. Bad or devilish manners earned in previous</div>
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life are reborn as devilish pigs, buffaloes and base creatures. Good experiences of the soul is</div>
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reborn as cows, men of lower castes and then as Kshatriya and later as Brahmin in the caste</div>
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ridden society and finally moksha in God.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There<b> are three views</b> about life after death. With death everything ends. After death the body</div>
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disintegrates and the eternal soul passes on to the next generation. The third view is that with</div>
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death, soul pass on to an eternal life with God or eternal damnation.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The atheist or the non-believer has no more information than the believer. The absence of proof</div>
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is not proof of absence. So the atheist's denial of god, spirit or life after death, like the believer's</div>
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affirmation of it, is ultimately a faith-based position. </div>
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<br /></div>
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In my view a rational being, -- most of us--cannot escape from our inborn feeling of finiteness and limitations when compared to the SuperPower; more just, good, perfect, knowledgeable, strong and ever existing being than us. That superpower created the Universe and its well ordered and minute structures and courses. You may call itGod or any other name. I believe that I am part of it. He is in me and my soul is part of HIM</div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Part 2/3</h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">LIFE AFTER DEATH</span>: CHRISTIAN VIEWS</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Who created the Universe?</b></div>
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Over time man started thinking of the origin of nature and of these mighty forces. Who created</div>
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the stars, planets, galaxies and the ever expanding firmament? Who masterminded the perfectly</div>
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ordered structure of the Universe and its replica; the minute atom? The protons and neutrons of</div>
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the atom and it’s still smaller elements also circulate in their orbits in the same orderly fashion</div>
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as the planets and stars of the Universe. The gravitation force keeps them all without head-long</div>
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collision and destruction of the Universe The big-bang theory was an attempted answer. But</div>
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who caused the big-bang? The answer was the WORD, <b>the sound of the monotheistic God</b> of</div>
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Judaism, Christianity, Islam Hinduism and other religions. This was a change from the many</div>
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nature-gods to Adwaitha and one-god theme. Man was discovering God. He was not</div>
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inventing, as poet Vayalar imagined; but only discovering the already existing God, This God is</div>
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the supreme creator of everything. He is perfect and complete knowledge pitted against the</div>
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imperfect man of finite senses and abilities. God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He</div>
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has no beginning and no end. He is knowledge, truth and hence infallible. His perfection on</div>
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comparison makes us finite men, imperfect and sinful. The finite with its limited abilities and</div>
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reasoning cannot fathom the infinite.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Many things we simply believ</b>e without experiencing them with our senses. Our senses have</div>
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only very limited abilities. We cannot see something distant from us-say a mile or two away.</div>
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We cannot hear sounds or words uttered some distance away. We cannot touch anything</div>
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beyond our reach and so on. So we have to believe others who have experience of them.</div>
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Thus it is faith in what others say that makes us believe of its existence. Soul, spirit and God are</div>
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such ideas. Those who have experienced them speak of them. We have to believe them. Try for</div>
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this experience. You may or may not get at it. It is faith that gives it to you.</div>
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The concept of good originates from God. He alone is good. Hence the imperfect man is</div>
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ungodly and has evil. Thus while God is perfect and good, man is imperfect, evil, and sinful.</div>
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Man can aspire to become perfect like God. This is what Jesus taught us by His life, death and</div>
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resurrection.</div>
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Christian belief is the -<b>Nicene Creed.</b> It is our profession of faith</div>
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1. We believe in the triune God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit-- the creator of everything.</div>
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2. Christ incarnated from God as man born of Virgin Mary for our salvation from sin</div>
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3. Was crucified in the days of Pilate, died and resurrected after three days</div>
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4. We believe in the one catholic church and Baptism is the method to absolve us from sin</div>
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;And</div>
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5. We are looking forward to the second coming of Christ to gather all of us to His kingdom</div>
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<br /></div>
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The basics of Christianity are a<b> way of life</b> to be one with God. Its rules are for a new social</div>
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order for peaceful co-existence of man with Universe. It is the Kingdom of God brought to earth.</div>
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The essence of Christianity, we learn from the Bible (Old & New Testament) and teachings of</div>
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our Church fathers, past & present. <b>Four ideas</b> emerge:</div>
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1. Universal brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. Love everyone and everything</div>
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as yourself.</div>
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2. The kingdom of God is at hand; (St. John the Baptist’s and Christ’s teachings). Repent for</div>
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your sins and enter into the Kingdom</div>
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3. .Life is the true measure of values to mirror Christ to others. And</div>
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4. We are Stewards of Christ entrusted with the mission to spread this Good News.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This concept and goal of Heaven was necessary for a workable social order. Man is a</div>
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social being. All creations of God, man, animals, plants and trees, fish and birds live in suitable</div>
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locations on earth where nature provide them facilities for life. Each group agglomerates to</div>
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suitable places and live together. Each social group can peacefully exist together only if they</div>
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accept and adopt certain <b>minimum rules for their society</b>. Love is the basic rule for all. Love in</div>
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society like gravity in cosmic system <b>can exist only when there is another entity to love or</b></div>
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<b>gravitate.</b> When all the men love one another and everything around as him and share what he</div>
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has, there will be peace and happiness in social life. One may call this society Heaven. It is</div>
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Universal brotherhood. Buck Minster Fuller uses the term <b>CYNERGY</b> for this love or gravitation.</div>
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All entities in the firmament gravitate and pull each other. So none can move away from its orbit.</div>
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In the same manner if all the creatures on the planet (now 6000 Planets) love one another as</div>
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itself, there will be peace and happiness in all social lives in the Universe. Practicing CYNERGY</div>
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can bring Heaven into the Universe and among men.</div>
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<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Part 3 of 3</h2>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">LIFE AFTER DEATH</span>: Does life end with death?</b></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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Death is certain. Belief in life after death is Universal. Rationalists with their Hegelian</div>
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individualism, highly limited abilities and senses try to find <b>proof of life after death.</b> Failure makes</div>
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them to convince themselves by arguments.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Religions have different views about life after death. There are <b>two kinds of death:</b> death of</div>
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the body and death of the soul. With death, the body disintegrates to cosmic elements.</div>
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(Christians believe that at the second coming of Christ it regroups to take an ethereal form and</div>
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will be in the presence of God). When we commit sin we go away from God and the soul dies.</div>
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The Old Testament gives us this idea that sin cause death. Adam and Eve sinned by disobeying</div>
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God. So they died and passed on to a dark godless world; the deepest part of the World of the</div>
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dead. .Is.14:15. Ps.88:12 says that the land of the dead is all darkness; In Job.10:21-22 It is</div>
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land of darkness shadows and confusion where light itself is darkness. Hebrews believed that</div>
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life after death is life away from God. Ezk. 18:14; 31:16-17 .There is eternal darkness. It is</div>
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fearful</div>
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<br /></div>
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The dead souls of this dark land are <b>only dorman</b>t. They can hear, see and respond.</div>
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(1.Sam.28:15). Dead dormant Samuel was disturbed by Saul to get his opinion; God do not</div>
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want man to die in sin and be there in darkness forever. He wants man to repent and come</div>
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back to life. (Ezk. 18:23).</div>
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<br /></div>
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Christ showed that <b>through baptism the soul resurrec</b>t to life from sin and death. Christian</div>
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baptism is the method to wash the sinful soul to accept God and enter into the Christian life.</div>
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Death is baptism to emerge into life. You die to resurrect. Christ received death on cross and</div>
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came back to life. He willingly accepted death on cross to destroy Satan and his sinful ways to</div>
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save the entire humankind to the Kingdom of God. The Adamic sinful soul enters the church of</div>
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believers and life though repentance and baptism. Christ resurrected and entered in glory to</div>
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Heaven. Death is preparation to eternal life in Heaven.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Life after death in paradise is <b>dormant but alive</b>. Jesus said (Mt.22:32) I am the God of Abraham,</div>
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Isaac and Jacob and not of the dead. At. Mt. Tabor Christ conversed with Moses and Elijah who</div>
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lived on earth long ago. Disciples saw them. (Mt.17:3).This is evidence that souls are live and</div>
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become active. The parable of the rich man and Lazar in Lk. 16 clearly explain this. In his</div>
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writings, St. Paul says that the soul after death goes to Jesus. (Phil.1:23). Jesus will take back</div>
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those souls who die believing in Him. (Thes. 4:13). Similarly St. Peter says in I Pr. 4:6 “Christ</div>
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died and went to preach among the dead.” In Lk. 22:43. They were alive to hear Him. Christ</div>
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promises to the criminal crucified with Him “today you will be with me in paradise”. All this prove</div>
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that life after death is, active, receptive to Good News and is capable of repentance and</div>
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admission into Heaven. So <b>we are bound to pray for our kith </b>and kin who are dead and waiting</div>
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for the second coming of Christ to resurrect and go with Him to Heaven. Let us pray for your</div>
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husband Baby, Kunjena Uppappan, Elayamma, Pullucat Valiappachan, Aleyamma Ammachy</div>
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and all ancestors.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sages of yester years were raking their brains about what happens to men after death. All</div>
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religions now believe that there is life for the soul after death. In Christianity the early fathers</div>
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believed that the souls who believe in Christ at the time of death will go back to God, its creator.</div>
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There is thinking that <b>man has three lives</b>: human life, life after death in paradise and then life</div>
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in Heaven with God on the second coming of Jesus. Those who do not believe in Jesus at</div>
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death will pass on to Hades. These souls are also live and receptive. So Good News and</div>
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prayers for them can make them also go to Heaven, or rejected by Christ and go to hell.</div>
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Intercession.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Don’t we pray for our children</b> when they go through a fever, a public examination or any</div>
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trial? Our live parents pray for us. The dead past parents in paradise or Hades or in Heaven or</div>
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Hell also are praying for us. Intercession to God on behalf of our partner, children, friends and</div>
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those who seek our prayers is natural to all of us. We all intercede to God for them .In</div>
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Christianity we seek intercession of St. Mary the mother of Christ. The most repeated “Hail</div>
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Mary” prayer is solely a pleading to her to pray for us at all times and at the hour of our death.</div>
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In the OT (Old Testament) the kings, prophets and priests were the mediators between man</div>
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and God. (Joel 2:17: 2 Sam 24:17; etc). The classic example of mediation is of Abraham</div>
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pleading to God to save Sodom from destruction. (Gen.18:16-23). God conceded to that</div>
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intercession and saved Sodom at that time. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In N T <b>Christ is the most powerful intercessionist</b>. He is constantly pleading to God to</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
forgive our sins and protect us from perdition. By His death on the cross He bridged the gap</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
between God and us sinners. Rom.8:34 say Christ “is at right hand side of God, pleading with</div>
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Him for us”. All our mediation by ourselves, priests, saints of the church or our dead parents,</div>
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kith and kin: all go through the one mediator Christ. Christ has promised, (John.14:13).that</div>
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<b>whatever you ask in my name, I will do it</b> “so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the</div>
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Son”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Orthodox Church most part of the Holy Qurbana and all Koodasa are intercession to God.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In Protestant Churches also prayers are all intercession to Christ. The major difference is that</div>
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they do not pray for the dead. As seen above .all the souls of the dead are alive, receptive and</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
active. They are all waiting for the second coming of Jesus to be saved into the Kingdom of</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God. They will all resurrect at Christ’s second coming. We the living who believe in Nicene</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Creed (We all believe) also are awaiting the second coming. Thus we are one community</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
(separated by the death curtain) waiting for Christ. We are all praying to save us in His second</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
coming. The dead whether in Paradise or Hades, are praying to God to save their living sons</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
and daughters just like we praying for our parents. Intercessionary prayers can be and are done</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
both by the living and the dead. So prying for the dead is as necessary as praying for the living</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
kith and kin. A more attractive feature of death is that we are going to join with all the hoards of</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
our relatives—our appachans, ammachys, brothers, sisters and all cousins at the second</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
coming. I hope to meet you there. So please pray for me also so that I can be with you all.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Death is birth into a new world of all of us</b> from Abraham to tomorrow’s generations. It is great</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
reunion to celebrate and enjoy, bliss: Heaven.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
END</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-76551256350559520432013-07-16T05:21:00.002-07:002013-07-16T05:21:29.768-07:00GREATEST REALITY SHOW<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><u>Greatest Reality show
ever staged</u><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>God
created the Universe. <span style="color: red;">Why?</span> To have
objects for His cosmic love. God’s Synergy wanted release and objects for
reciprocal love. Creation is pleasing. It is pleasure; Happiness. After each
creation God found it good and pleasing. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">What about biological evolution?</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">God’s creation does not deny the modern big bang
theory or biological evolution. Biblical six day creation is simplification for
those times when it was written. It is evolutionary creation. Creation is
continuing. The big bang reverberation continues. Universe is an ever expanding
phenomenon. New things are emerging;
coming to our knowledge. Recent discovery that besides earth there are not 3000
but 6000 habitable planets is an eye opener. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">Adam’s sin is <span style="color: red;">the curtain raiser</span> of
the show</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">. Disobedience displeased
God. Sinner must bear the consequences. Adam was banished from Eden. Adam and
Eve lost the constant companionship of God. Yet God loved His creation and his
later generations intensely. No wonder, He incarnated as Man to go through all
sufferings to crucify Man’s evil and salvage him from sin on a permanent basis.
This is not so simple. Peter denied Christ and later repented. He saw the glory
of resurrection. But Judas did not wait to see. He went and hanged himself.
Repentance is the key to be with God.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">Why God allow man to sin</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">?</span> War, plunder, adultery, wickedness, lust for neighbor’s
house or wife, stealing, murder, idol worships including of money, greed, over
exploitation of the earth, destruction of environment and consequent floods, earthquakes, famine, epidemics are all
against the commandments of God. Knowledge
and self consciousness drive man to sin. He exercises his free will. God has no
role in it. Man does it on his own. Satanic Eve’s-like persuasion helps.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>There
is a view that man is born with a definite purpose. Every individual moves on a pre-destined
trajectory. <span style="color: red;">It is his fate.</span> This
will imply that God create evil. This is not true. God created man in His own
image, likeness and free will. God is spirit (John 4-24). Man is made in the
spiritual image of God. Man is not evil. Man’s knowledge-arrogance commits all
crimes.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>If
it is fate, there is no provision for
repentance and salvation: the quintessence of the Bible and teachings of
the Church fathers.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>Reality
<span style="color: red;">show starts with Adam</span>. His future generations continued Adamic sin of disobeying
God. God sent His emissaries and prophets one after another to warn or punish
man. Men repented many a time and God always forgave them. He yearned for His synergic objects. Finding emissaries ineffective
in abolishing the recurrent sin, God sent as the last resort His own son Jesus
to them. The reality show escalated to
its climax. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>He,
born in a manger of Virgin Mary and Joseph, a poor carpenter, was an historical
person. God became man like any other. He lived for 33 years among them teaching
them and as a model of good life. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;">In
His last three years</span> it was a
consistent show of overcoming evil and defeating Satan. He relieved all kinds
of sufferers who were slaves of Satan. Physical and mentally deformed souls got
relief and food to lead a better life. His words and care for the suffering
under-dogs was relief for all marginalized. He was showing the modalities of bringing heaven –a new society-- in the World
of men of sins. He even invoked His Godly miracles to feed the multitude or to
give back life to Lazarus. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">God in other religions also
incarnated as man, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">but in
pre-history</span>. Jesus was born during the reign of Roman emperor Augustus Caesar
and when Herod (BC 37- 01) was ruling Jerusalem. There was an occasion. Emperor
ordered a census to impose new tax for increasing the revenue. Qurinius the
ruler of Syria implemented it. Pilate was the governor. Joseph and Pregnant
Mary travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem their home town for enumeration. She
delivered Jesus in a manger. This is a well recorded history. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">The <span style="color: red;">show came to its climax </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">in the crucifixion at the time of Emperor Tiberius
(14-37 AD) in 33 AD. Jesus lived it. His vicarious suffering for extricating man
of his Adamic sin at birth was the biggest reality show ever staged anywhere. The
weight of the wooden cross he carried made him to fall inviting more flogging. Soldiers flogged and thrust a crown of
thorn on Him. The affliction sliced and shred his flesh from the bones. The fourteen
stations of the Via Dolorosa on His last day as man was mind chilling to the
weeping underdogs in the accompanying crowd. Finally they crucified Him alive. This
was the most dastardly reality show ever staged. Sin of man in him suffered all
this and died. The God in Him twisted the crown of thorn into victory of
Easter. He resurrected from the dead to show that man can overcome evil permanently. This is the glory of Easter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;"><b>END<i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458771064385421022.post-59064766095251346312012-10-08T03:24:00.003-07:002012-10-08T03:24:16.417-07:00CONFLICTIVE POLITICS- THE CURSE OF KERALA.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">CONFLICTIVE<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>POLITICS- THE CURSE OF KERALA</span>.</u></b></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
Prof. Joseph K. Alexander</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Kerala
has more potential for rapid economic growth, full employment, more per capita
income<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and well being than Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Karnataka or Tamil Nadu. The high literacy (93.91 %), ubiquitous
health care centers & facilities, longevity nearing 80, inflow of Rs. 40,000
crores per annum as expatriate’s <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>remittances,
very high consumption expenditure, highly educated<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>& skilled unemployed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(9 %), a cleaner and transparent governance
of the State<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and better industrial
relations augur a high kink in the growth graph of the State. Despite this favorable
ambience, the Kerala phenomenon of high HDI (Human development Index) with growth
less agriculture and industrial sectors is paradoxical. Its HDI is 0.0920. It
is equal to the highest ranked country of the World- Norway. Yet its economy is
languishing and its citizens are having an income much below their potential. I
Place the LDF- UDF conflictive “politricks “as the main cause of this paradox.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Since
the formation of the Kerala State on 1-11-1956, we had voted up thirteen
legislature Assemblies and 21 ministries into power. There were 7 interludes of
Presidential rule due to administration failures and lack of majority on the
floor. The first four Govts. were majority party administrations. M/s E. M. S.
Namoodiripad (CPI), Pattom ThanuPIlla (PSP), R. Sankar (INI) and of EMS (CPM)
were the chief ministers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next Govt. of Sri, Achutha Menon was a
coalition ministry of LDF (Left Democratic Government). It lasted only 10
months. He formed a new coalition ministry on 4-10-1970. It went to its full
term. Of the 21 ministries only four lasted the full five year term. Menon’s
was the first. After this ministry, all the ministries in Kerala were either of
the LDF or of the UDF (United Democratic Front). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
new phenomenon is the splitting of political parties into splinter groups to
gain more representation seats in the ministry and freedom to collect more kick
backs from the Govt. spending of the various departments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For every purchase of the Govt. there is a
normal discount or negotiated higher discount.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is never accounted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder,
Coalition ministries are now in vogue in all the Indian States and at the
Center</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Kerala the LDF- UDF-LDF swing in the
election-voting make the parties to be unscrupulous in leaving or joining a new
coalition. What they want is the power and the kick backs. I am not saying that
all politicians are corrupt. There must be experts for this in each group. In
this conflicting milieu the parties oppose those in power to vote them out. For
that, they oppose all programmes good and bad and make the good ones to appear
bad in the eyes of the ranks. This is done by all, though more vociferously and
effectively by the LDF.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While in other States, the MPs and MLAs of all
hues join together to wring out funds and projects from the Central Government
or outsiders, in Kerala the conflict is conspicuously displayed by opposing the
projects brought up by either groups. Sri. T .V. Thomas, (CPI), when he was
industries minister of Kerala, conducted a foreign tour to invite investments to
Kerala. Sri. A K Antony conducted a GIM (Global Investment Meet) in 2003 and brought
in around Rs. 26000 cr. worth MOUs for new investments in Kerala.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The negotiations were forced to drag on for
years. Now Mr.OOmmen Chandy conducted an “Emerging Kerala 2012” meet a couple
of weeks ago. A number of MOUS are emerging. But the LDF started opposing it
from the beginning and the flavor of the meet is forced to dissipate. Opposing
everything for the sake of the Party is the Politricks. This is the curse of Kerala
that prevent it from fast forward march of Economic growth. Even today it is
our fate that we depend on other States for everything we need and consume. </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">END</span></div>
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Prof. Joseph K. Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12009545118520657050noreply@blogger.com0