POWER OF CHRISTIANS.

POWER OF CHRISTIANS.

If Hinduism is hurt, only India and Nepal will be hurt. If Judaism is hurt, only Israel will be hurt. If Islam is hurt, many parts of the world will be hurt. And, if Christianity is hurt, the entire world will be hurt and its effect will be seen everywhere in the world. Since the persecution for Christians started in India aggressively 2 months back by the Hindu fanatics, the entire world stood by Indian Christians in unison. This unity made not only the Government of India under Manmohan Sing and Sonia Gandhi eat a humble pie but worst still the State Governments where worst persecution done, bowed down before the tremendous pressure from all around. In Orissa, its Government finally accepted the fact that all round persecution for Christians have been done even to the extent of raping the nun while earlier it was denied. Where are the gods and goddesses of Hindu fanatics gone? Do their gods and goddesses allow to kill innocent people, rape nuns, destroy the houses and properties of others? If it is yes, then I refuse to acknowledge such a religion and their gods and goddesses. The religion that gives liberty to its followers to destroy and kill people of other religions is not a religion, it is a satanic cult and as such it should be rejected by everyone.

It took almost half a month for Orissa Government to acknowledge the truth. Are Orissa, Karnataka, Madya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and other States where minority Christian community is harassed, tortured and displaced governed by the rule of law? Are the administrations of these States in the hands of persons who respect the rule of law? It looks to me these States are ruled by parallel Governments like what we have in tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan where village lords are the rulers and the legal de Jure Governments are just bystanders. After a careful study of the hatred against minorities in India, it looks to me that India is hijacked by the Hindu fanatics and Hindu terrorists. It is because of such fanatics and such terrorists that India was splitted in 1947, Jinnah was just an excuse. If these anti-Indian Hindu fanatics and anti-Indian Hindu terrorists do not stop their hatred for minorities in India, then there is every possibility for India to further split. As it is in the quasi federal set up of India, there is lot of room for secessionists. Kashmiris are one example while Nagas and other northerners are doing their best to secede from India and yesterday we already saw how Khalistanis did such a huge damage for the fake Indian unity. If India is today united it is not because all Indians want this unity but all Indians are coerced into submission to this artificial unity. This type of forced unity will never last for long. It is not my wish to see India further splitted but nature will take its own course. The fury of nature will come like a calamity when unnatural acts are committed. We the people on this earth are all children of same God. Persecuting some children of God by other children is an unnatural act and it is a sin against God which is punishable and this punishment from God will surely come, it may be during my lifetime or over my dead body.

The anti-Indian Hindu fanatics and terrorists think that they are more Indian and Christians and other minorities are less Indian. They make a big mistake by thinking thus. To liberate India and to protect India, Indian Christians have done yeomen services. Much before Ghandis and Nehrus it was Christian Goan Indian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who raised the voice for the freedom of India from European soil. The contribution of Christians for the cause of India and Indians was second to none. India does not belong to Hindus only and more so Hindu fanatics only. They are cowards to get afraid of miniscule minority of Christians. This tiny minority is not capable of overpowering numerically powerful Hindu India. Conversion is just a fake excuse. If Christians and especially Catholics were that much of interested in forced conversion in India, under the Christian colonial rule the entire India could have been converted into Christian. Indian Hindu fanatics are crooks towards their own fellow Hindus whom they want to be always downtrodden and live a subhuman life under subjugation on the basis of caste system. Christianity opposes this system because Christianity is the religion of equality. Christianity makes a human being as full fledged person. Christianity does not preach cruelty. The way Hindu fanatics acted with Christians recently it looks their cruelty is worst than that of terrorists who plant bombs in India. The mode of killing innocent people instantly by the terrorists in bombing is far better than the mode of killing used by Hindu fanatics thru torturing, raping, cutting of the limbs, parading naked on the streets and such other humiliation. This does not mean that I accept the killing by the terrorist thru bombings in India. .

In his recent statement, BJP premier in waiting Advani condemned the raping and killing of the nun in Orissa and said it is a shame on humanity. Mr. Advani, it is a shame on all Hindus like you who support fanatic Hindus. Your Hinduism has brought disgrace on Hindus as a whole and acquired bad name for Hinduism. All Hindus do not subscribe to the views of fanatics Hindus who created problems for Christians but unfortunately Hindus like you silently subscribe to the views of fanatic Hindus. Now those who were guilty of killing Hindu Swami in Orissa were apprehended. Hence, it was acknowledged that Christians were not responsible for the killing of Hindu Swami. In this case it is proved beyond any doubt that Christians were not at all involved in killing Hindu Swami and his colleagues. So what is your view on the destruction of Christians, their properties, their places of worship and so many other crimes against them? How can you and Hindu fanatics retrieve the damages done already to Christians in India in the wake of killing of Hindu Swami? Can anybody in your own community compensate for the losses of lives, maiming of innocent Christians, raping of nuns, assaulting mercilessly of priests and destruction of Christian properties and places of their worship? Above all, can any one repair the enormous damage done to Indian socialism by the Hindu fanatics thru their dastardly and bestial acts? By persecuting Christians, Hindu fanatics have bastardized their brand of Hinduism.

During the whole turmoil created by Hindu fanatics against Christians, there was no retaliatory move from Christians. If it was Muslim community or Sikh community instead of Christians at the receiving end, there would be chaos all over India. But true to its teachings, Christians remained silent, unretaliatory and non violent. This does not mean Christians are always and everywhere mild and unretaliatory. If Christians decide to become violent then there is no power on earth to stop them from doing what they want to do. Some of the deadliest and cruelest acts in the history of mankind were committed by the Christians. Who fought the religious wars so forcefully in Europe known as Crusades? Not Christians? Who dropped the deadliest and foulest Atom Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Not Christians? Who were the deadliest terrorists who performed deadliest operations for the cause of Palestinians? Not Christian Arabs? Who were the fighters who fought ferociously for the cause of Konkani in Goa? Not 7 Christian martyrs? Who committed the foulest crimes in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the top gangsters in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the most corrupt politicians in Goa? Not Christians? Who are the Goan women in Kuwait who practice concubinage by deserting their legal husbands back at home against the Christian doctrine? Not Christians? If Christians decide to act in an un-Christian way by taking law into their own hands then there is no stoppage for them. The deadliest goonda in Bombay during those days at Dhobitalao was none other than Christian Agostinho from Anjuna. He was the terror for all though he was a Christian.

A. Veronica Fernandes,

Kuwait.

GOAN MUSICALITY: GENESIS & NEMESIS.

GOAN MUSICALITY: GENESIS & NEMESIS.

By Valmiki Faleiro.

I have done some “mini-series” in this column. On road carnage (March to May, 2006), Goa’s flora (June-Aug, 2006) and politics from the first polls of 1963 (Jan-June, 2007.) But I never received the kind of reader response as the nine pieces on ‘Goan music’ did. I’ll respond to some of those e-mails...

The Portuguese Governor who said, “There is no money for those who cry, where is the money for those who sing?” was Jose Silvestre Ferreira Bossa (1945-47), the fourth-lastGovernor. Bossa, an agnostic, was famous for caustic retorts. During those depressing post World War-II years, when petitioned for a gasoline subsidy to ferry pilgrims for the Old Goa feast, Bossa wrote back, “Quem tem fe, vai de pe” (whose of faith, must walk.) Portuguese troops utilised post-dinner recreation time for procreation grime. Goa’s then particularly puritan Portuguese Patriarch-Archbishop complained to Bossa, who rejoined, “They are long away from family, this is an evil necessity!” Music bred out of Goa’s soil and language. The earliest settlers, Mhars, played a variety of horns and drums – for purposes as diverse as entertainment, to keeping evil spirits at bay! As ‘pedhos’ (sextons) in a later era, they pealed and tolled not just church bells, butplayed bugles and trumpets. Dravidian tribes that centuries later followed the Mhars (and subjugated them) enriched Goa’s music with their ‘ghumot’ and such.

Then came the Sanskrit-speaking Indo-Aryans. Enchanted with the sing song native language, they dubbed Konknni as the “song language of ancient India.” Together with lands, ganvkaris and gods, Aryans conquered Goa’s inbred music-song. Aryans (Brahmins/Kshatriyas/Vaishyas), the new masters, imbibing the local ethos, added to Goa’s music traditions. But, surprisingly, though post-Aryan Goa was largely under South Indian kings, Hindu Goa’s music evolvement did not go the Carnatic way, the purer form in Raga (melodious) and Tala (rhythmic.) It embraced Hindustani music, which was much influenced by 12th/13th century Muslim conquests. One reason,perhaps, was the concubines (and their musically inclined consorts) of Goan Aryans were attracted by the more powerful and patronizing kings of north India.

Converted Aryans during the Portuguese era added a new dimension to Goan music, when restrictions on local language and song were relaxed – with forms like the Mando. Nothing remains static forever. Like Goa itself, currently undergoing another unremitting metamorphosis, from which, slowly but surely, will emerge a new Goa without ‘Goans’and ‘Goemkarponn’ that we once knew, so with her music. Tribal music is almost dead. Folk songs like ‘vovios’ were killed a long time ago. Gone are the ‘Mandds’ and ‘Zagors.’ Sacred and profane (non-religious) music survives only in pocket boroughs. As does latter day folk music like mandos, dulpods and deknis. Like the ‘Tazana Mandals’ of our Hindu temples of yore, church-run music schools, ‘Mestris,’ and maestros, like AntonioFigueredo, Fr. Lourdino Barreto and Fr. Camilo Xavier are now only a fond memory. A rarity today is those who can handle brass and string instruments. This is the age of electronic instruments, of pre-programmable organs and synthesizers, played by the ear. Of DJs and RJs. Of genres of music that would sound only a noisy cacophony to those born before the 1960s.

This ‘mini-series’ idea emerged from some recent orchestral concerts. Inspiration came from the performance of the Goa State Symphony Orchestra “confluenced” with an ensemble from Nuremberg, Germany, that performed in Panjim on March 4, 2008. Its recording was so kindly provided by senior journalist-friend, Frederick Noronha. I was glad to see embers of traditional music still alight. Particularly heartening was Sania Cotta. Inshallah, like the tennis racket Sania, this Sania and her violin shall go places! I shall end with an e-mail forward, “The Concert.”

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat to find her little boy missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive and shiny Steinway on stage. To her horror, the mother saw her child sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." At that moment, the great piano master entered, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered into the boy's ear, "Don't quit … keep playing." Then, leaning over, the maestro reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played... except the classic "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." In today’s music world, we’d call that a ‘remix!’ (ENDS.)

GOAN LITANY IN KUWAIT.

On Tuesday 7th of this month, in the compound of Holy Family Cathedral (Church) in Kuwait City, in front of the Statue of our Lady Mother Mary, under the skippership of Albino Fernandes, a Bombay settled Goan but originally hailing from Agacaim, Ilhas, Goa, the Legion of Mary group organized at 7.00 pm a Rosary in English followed by Goan style Litany in Latin which was attended by a good number of faithfuls from different regions and nationalities. The singing of Litany and Hymns was provided with musical accompaniment by young musicians under the leadership of Choir Leader and a well-known musician and music teacher in Kuwait Francis Machado from Taleigao, Ilhas, Goa. It was lovely scene to watch the young and budding boys and girls playing so beautifully Goan Craze Instrument “Violin” and also Organ.


At the end of the Litany, all the faithfuls were served with traditional Goan “ Ukoddlole Chonne” (boiled Grams), snacks and cold drinks. In the name of such Litanies, lot of goodwill is generated which is very essential in this part of the world. Such activities in Kuwait create lot of interactions among people of diverse cultures, traditions, regions and nationalities. For organizing such events Albino should not only be applauded but he should be also encouraged and supported. But unfortunately inspite of doing so much of for the cause of our Religion, Society in general and community in particular especially for Christians, according to information he is showered with abundant jealousies by some of the people in the same area, from top to bottom. Why this is happening? Because many people in his area are incapable of doing what Albino is doing. He is spotless as far as his Christian faith and Catholic affiliation is concerned. He was not involved in bootlegging and selling illegally distilled liquour to his colleagues. By associating with Church activities he was never involved in vulgarity and other such scandals. He never made use of his Church association to do personal business and make money in the name of promotion of religion. In fact, he used his association in the Church only to serve God and to serve human beings. He has been serving the Kuwait Church since the last quarter of a century. He was the founder of Holy Family Choir in Kuwait. When he landed in Kuwait for the first time, he was not a novice in Church activities. He was well experienced in this area in Bombay where his activities as a young boy was even appreciated by the late Cardinal Gracias. Unfortunately, many times such talented persons are not very much liked by the top, middle and bottom classes of people not only from the Laity but also from the Clergy because they are suffering from cancerous and anti-Christian, anti-Catholic desease called “Jealousy”. The vice of Jealousy is an antitheses of Christianity. And yet they say they are serving the God. By discriminating one’s fellow beings on the basis of regionality and nationality one will never serve God.

This year Legion of Mary congregation in Kuwait completes 35 years. It was formed by Fr. Domnick Santamaria a Goan priest from Cunchelim Bardez, Goa, serving Kuwait Church almost during the last 40 years. This congregation is the oldest one in Kuwait. I joined it in 1975 and from that group I see none now in Kuwait. Fr. Domnick was our spiritual director as he is still now and that time he was full of youth, vigour and wisdom, a very knowledgeable priest. Knowledge is the most essential part of priesthood otherwise a person of my caliber will never listen any preaching from any “Ladru – Pedru’ type of priest. Knowledge is the source of strength of religious leaders. Any “Sankistao”, “Kuzner” and “Bottler” cannot acquire knowledge as priests can do to impart it to others. For this reason, our Catholics are leaving Catholicsm in good number and joining other Christian congregations because the preaching there is done by the highly literate and highly knowledgeable pastors. Secondly in these groups there is lot of transparency especially in financial affairs. In Goa and in our community because of financial jugglery done in an organized manner lot of discontent is created leading to the splits in our religious congregation.

Talking about Fr. Domnick Santamaria’s wisdom, let me cite one example during one of our Legion of Mary meetings in 1975. One of our activities as Legionaries was to visit the sick in the hospitals and to their homes. One young girl complained to Fr. Domnick that she was insulted by the sick lady in her house for visiting her and that young Legionary girl cried in front of everyone in the meeting. Immediately Fr. Domnick retorted saying – “My dear young girl, if you are not ready to accept humiliation and insult then you cannot serve Christ because Christ Himself suffered humiliation and insults”. What a wonderful answer!! Can any Sankistao or illiterate Deacon gives such a reply within a split of a second?

When I joined Legion of Mary, I was young, full of youth and exceedingly attractive, well dressed capturing lot of attention from lot of girls in our circle, well educated and well social mannered. In our Legion of Mary group I was attracting more attention of girls and tempting them to woo me because of my charismatic attitude and abundant knowledge on diverse topics. Bible and its quotations were on the tip of my tongue because 8 years I was Bible student in School at Arpora under the secular priest Fr. Peter D’Souza besides 4 years in College at St. Xaviers – Goa, under the strict disciplinarian Jesuit priest Fr. Pallitanam. But inspite of my strong charismatic influence on this group, I had to leave it for two reasons. Reason One: There is a saying “In order to avoid sin, you must avoid the occasion of sin”. I had my beautiful and lovely girlfriend in Goa whom I promised to marry. But when I felt Legion of Mary like most of the Church groups are filled with opportunities for illicit relationship or hunger to find life partner legally, I said I must decide seriously whether to stay or quit. Hence, I opted for the latter. I was afraid to control the weakness in my flesh. After all I am a human being. When Adam who was created by God himself was the victim of weakness in his flesh then who and what am I to resist the flesh temptation which was abundant in such activities? Don’t we know so many males and females involved in Church activities are having illicit relationship and yet they move in Church area shamelessly? Why lay persons only? Even priests are involved in this illicit relationship. For this reasons, many of the sensible parents are restricting their young daughters from mixing up with the priests in Church activities. Many of the splits in marriages in our communities are the creations of some of our priests who are become devils in the robes of Christ.

Reason Two: There was one sick Pakistani Muslim lady in old Amiri Hospital. When I and my other colleagues went there to see her, she recounted her pitiable story and desired to return to Pakistan but had no money to buy the ticket. It was coming to around KD 45/- one way. Based on the dictum that “charity begins at home” I told my colleagues that we all contribute from our pockets and buy her the ticket but my proposal was rejected outright. Then I said if we cannot do this then we have no right to involve ourselves in visiting such people. These sick people need concrete help and not just abstract consolation like “we will pray for you”. Only praying without concrete help when required is a big “tamasha” of hypocrites. Then somebody suggested “why not we utilize money coming into the Church coffers from weekly collections? There was no answer from anyone because nobody knew where and in whose kitty it goes. Having no choice, disgusted, I quit Legion of Mary the very year of my joining. But after so many years, on 7th of this month I realized this group is still existing under the same spiritual director who unfortunately was not visible during the Litany.

May God Bless Legion of Mary congregation in Kuwait and all those who are involved openly and from behind the curtain to make this Litany a big success.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.