Lead Kindly Light

“Lead Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom”. These starting lines of a poem by John Henry Newman have become a famous prayer. We find similar immortal words in the Upanishads: “From darkness lead me to light”.  And in John 1:5, we find:“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.”

Call it religion or spirituality or simply humanism, a moment comes when you experience a light in your life and you begin to see your life in that light. You take one step at a time guided by the illumination you have experienced.

It could be a burning bush or a peepal tree. It could be high up on the hills or on the sands of the shore. It could be in a temple, mosque or church, or in the quiet ambience of a room at home. Once you experience the light in your life, you probably want to walk on the path that it shows. Life may never be the same again.

Today being Easter, I wish to share my Easter thoughts with you. Jesus Christ experienced his divine light during his short lifetime on earth. It may have been in the desert or on the mountains where he kept going every now and then to be alone in prayer. There he received his superhuman enlightenment and strength which kept him going to the very end. He spoke with authority from a position of strength derived from his knowledge of the ultimate reality, not from the power derived from a position within the social, political or religious structures of  the times he lived. In fact, he became a living threat to the dead socio-religious structures of the day, a threat to those in power and authority. He spoke the truth, and truth hurts. The high and mighty could not digest the simplicity and wisdom of a carpenter’s son. He called for change. And change they would not. A revolution could be in the offing and could turn their position in society upside down. The power of the world they had aplenty. They used it to crucify him and finish the revolution of love that he had started. His disciples were scattered.

The revolution of love has its own power. Love “is stronger than death”. The spirit of love could not be crucified unto death. Truth can’t be hidden forever. The disciples of Jesus were the first to experience the light of the Resurrection. Once they did, nothing in the world could stop them from sharing that light with others. They had heard Jesus teaching them for three years. They had moved with him everywhere during that time. But after experiencing the first Easter, they understood the message in a new light. Their eyes opened to a new reality and they felt empowered as never before. What the physical presence of Jesus did not accomplish, his spiritual presence did. The Easter encounter was the moment of their light. The death of Jesus had been conquered by his love and life. John Donne, the English poet, has captured this theme in his immortal sonnet:

Death be not proud, though some have called thee

 Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so,

 For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow,

 Die not, poor Death,……..

One short sleep past, we wake eternally,

 And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Having experienced the light of the resurrection, the disciples were enthused, confident and courageous. Physical limitations and geographical boundaries could no more hinder them from sharing the cup that ran over with joy. The resurrection was the turning point in the lives of Jesus’ disciples and continues to be so with his innumerable followers. “It remains at the very heart of the mystery of faith as something that transcends and surpasses history.”(CCC 647)

A spiritual experience can make a big difference in our lives. If we seek it, we should find it. As the French Jesuit philosopher Teilhard de Chardin wrote, “we are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience”. Our spiritual nature has been subdued if not lost in the ways of the world. We need the saving grace to develop our spiritual wings that perhaps lie underdeveloped due to lack of spiritual exercise.

The celebration of Easter reminds us of our potential for greater, transcending heights. Not in outer space. Not in daydreaming, fantasy or hallucination but in the reality of our lives. Deep within and yet beyond, when and where intuition meets transcendence. The kindly light.

Happy Easter.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 31.03.2013

Lawlessness

Law, according to Thomas Hobbes, “is the public conscience”. But according to Honore de Balzac, laws are “spider webs through which the big flies pass and the little ones get caught”. Both are right. But the law abiding citizen is sandwiched between the two perspectives. The law of the land or the law of the jungle?

Respect for the law is inbuilt in us. But when we see those blatantly violating the law going arrogantly free, we begin to question: right or might?

Actual respect for law is always in proportion to it being upheld by the authorities mandated to enforce law and order: The government, the home ministry in particular, the police as the face of law and order, and the judiciary as the final arbitrator. When people doubt or begin to question these institutions, law and order deteriorates.  It looks like that is what is happening in Goa.

A few facts and points to ponder: The man responsible for the heinous crime at Assagao is still at large. People are living in fear induced psychosis not only in the vicinity of Assagao but in villages as far as Aldona. The other day I heard one elderly lady telling a younger one with a girl child not to send her daughter alone anywhere. That is good advice. But she went on further to tell her in the presence of the child that the killer was now moving in the villages around Aldona, and would in no time appear on our roads with his knife. The girl looked frightened. I intervened to find out more. The elderly lady said that he is now seen in the forests of the surrounding villages. I told her that we have hardly any forests left, that we should be very cautious all the same, but not live in fear spread by rumours. The child smiled with relief. The elderly lady asked me what the hell our police were doing. I had no answer. She had made her point.

Few days back it was reported that a mob of about a thousand people in the villages near the Assagao crime site went chasing a man, nabbed him and beat him up badly, thinking he was the criminal in the said murder. It turned out to be somebody else. An innocent man had to bear the brunt of the mob because the people were peeved with the police that the murderer had not been arrested even after a month. They feel that they are entitled to take the law in their own hands. This attitude can result in a tragedy.

A couple of days back, a 15-year old SSC girl was attacked in daylight at Betalbatim by a migrant worker from Hubli, residing in the same village. The girl was rescued by the villagers from the clutches of the villain and had to be hospitalised. The villain too landed in a hospital after having been thrashed by an irate crowd and rescued by the police. Note the turn of events: the victim is rescued by the village crowd, and the villain is rescued by the police. In this event, however, it was not a case of false identity. The citizens of Betalbatim are now demanding stringent measures to curtail the spread of criminal activity in their village. They are angry, and rightly so.

And in the midst of these incidents of crime followed by mob action due to the inaction of the police, we had the sad news of the tragedy of a zealous and intrepid police officer killed by a cold blooded law breaker in the very action of enforcing the law. How atrocious! How despicable!

We salute the memory of the hero, PSI Abhishek S P Gomes, and share the grief of his family. He definitely deserves a posthumous state award for performing his duty risking himself in the throes of death, under the wheels of a truck from Punjab on the roads of Goa. The driver was promptly arrested in this case. But the wheels of justice are slow and procedure bound unlike the fast and rash wheels of the killer trucks.

What an irony that a law enforcing police officer had to become the victim at the hands of a law breaking driver. There are many other law enforcing officers who are sometimes hindered by the law-makers through political interference and threats of transfer. Governments change but lawlessness remains the same. The people must vigorously demand not just development but law and order enforcement. Of what use is development without safety and security? First things first.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 24.03.2013

Pope Francis for our Times

What a pleasant surprise it was to see on television the white smoke  announcing that the new pope had been chosen rather quickly and unexpectedly by 115  cardinals from 48 countries all over the world. More surprises would soon follow: that he is a Jesuit from a third world country in the Americas; the Archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina; a man marked by simplicity and humility, an evangelical lifestyle; known for his pastoral approach while modernizing Argentina’s conservative Catholic Church. The name that he has chosen, Pope Francis, sums up all the attributes that are likely to make him a charismatic pope for our troubled times.

The 76-year-old erstwhile Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio has chosen his papal name after St Francis of Assisi, the great and popular patron saint of the environment, well known for his   austerity, who was called to rebuild the Church in his time. The new pope certainly has the onerous task of rebuilding the Church in our time: the reforms within the walls of the Vatican and in the universal Church, invigorating ecumenism, intensifying dialogue with other religions, and reinventing the outreach of the church to the modern world.  As a Jesuit, he may also be inspired by the outreaching zeal of another Francis who belonged to his religious order, St Francis Xavier. Both saints, free men as their name implies, took courageous decisions out of their own freewill to embrace a new way of life. Both became inspirations to their contemporaries and for generations thereafter.

There has been a rising expectation for reform within the bureaucratic curia of the Vatican, a kind of Vatican version of ‘glasnost and perestroika’. The pope may not be effective in doing it alone, and will have to do it as a collegial exercise along with other prelates, especially those who have elected him at this conclave. He will need the prayers of men and women of goodwill from the universal Church to successfully undertake this difficult task. It looks like he will be a pope who will exercise his papal ministry in consultation with the bishops, strengthening the principle of collegiality. He referred to himself as the bishop of Rome coming from the far ends of the world while speaking from the balcony at St Peter’s immediately after the election. The papacy carries with it vast responsibilities and tasks which can be best performed when all the Church leaders are with the pope. One man can make the difference, but many men can boost the performance.

He will have to address the issue of sexual abuse by some among the ecclesiastics. This is a serious issue which has resulted in alienation among the laity in the western world. Mistakes of the past must be acknowledged and measures taken to ensure that there is no repetition. This problem has certainly played on the mind of his predecessor who might have felt not strong and young enough to tackle it. It is a cross that Pope Francis will have to bear prayerfully. The Vatican finances may be another problem. But these are issues that have to be confronted and settled with priority to set a good example to the world. The Church just can’t afford to have one set of standards for itself and another for the world.

There is a demand from some quarters for women priests and married priests. I think that these matters deserve due consideration and should not be treated as a closed chapter. Celibacy too needs to be revisited. But these are not urgent demands and the attention given should be with a long term perspective. However more ministries should be made open to women of religious orders and to the laity.

It is a considered view that the Church’s stand on abortion and gay marriages is not on the same level as that on celibacy and women priests. Every demand from every quarter does not merit similar attention and consideration. There are teachings which are very sacred and can’t be compromised. The Church has to stand solid as a rock on these matters, but with compassion.

The Church needs renewal in some areas and revival in other areas. This applies to areas of apostolate as well as geographical areas. I believe that the world needs a revived and renewed Church which will be in constant dialogue with other religions, organizations and people of good will. And I believe that the Church needs a strong and charismatic pope who will lead all its members from the front. Pope Francis, with his simplicity and humility, has given hope right on day one. His smile and his initial greetings captivated those who watched him live. He asked the people gathered at the Vatican square to pray for him as he bowed his head. The Franciscan spirit was visible in the Jesuit.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 17.03.2013

An Attractive Alternative

The Indian political atmosphere has been getting charged by manipulation as a run up to 2014 national elections. Ours is a parliamentary democracy like that of UK, not a presidential one like that of USA and France. But there is a chorus rising from some quarters, perhaps designed, perhaps spontaneous, to make our parliamentary elections look like presidential ones. Parliamentary de jure, presidential de facto. Rahul Gandhi v/s Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi has proved that he understands the democratic ethos of India better than those who were pushing him into a personality cult mode. He has proved his political maturity by not falling for the bait, declaring that he is not a contender for the prime minister’s post. Three cheers to him for that.

Rahul’s words on  March 5, 2013 are worth recalling: “My priority is not to become the prime minister…the question of who will be the prime ministerial candidate of the Congress does not interest me…I have no lust for power or to become the PM.” 

In the sixty-five years of our history as a free and democratic country, the prime ministers have been chosen by the force of circumstances rather than manipulative self promotion. Who else could have been an alternative to Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1998 and 1999? Did he promote himself the way it is done so blatantly today in the BJP? Was Jawaharlal Nehru not the natural choice in 1947 although surrounded by men of equal eminence? Did Lal Bahadur Shastri have to manipulate his way to the prime minister’s chair in 1964? Was not Indira Gandhi chosen by the Congress in preference to Morarji Desai in 1966? And was not Morarji Desai chosen PM by the Janata Party after a massive victory in 1977?  Charan Singh’s very  short stint as PM in 1979 by splitting from the Janata Party may be considered an aberration as that of Chandra Shekar’s in 1990. Indira Gandhi returned to power in 1980 after a massive mandate for her party. Circumstances forced Rajiv Gandhi into politics after the tragic death of Sanjay Gandhi who was also seen to be manipulating his way to become PM. And Rajiv Gandhi became the unanimous choice of the Congress in the emotionally charged atmosphere after the assassination of his mother Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. The choice was endorsed by the record breaking mandate with two thirds majority in the general elections that followed two months later. Rajiv Gandhi proved himself to be a democratic leader who did not use his big majority to turn himself into a “supreme leader”, a term that is used these days by some politicians with limited following.

V P Singh became prime minister by consensus after the victory of the national third front led by his party, the Janata Dal. Narasimha Rao had almost retired from politics when he was asked to take the prime minister’s mantle following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. Deve Gowda and I K Gujral were forced by circumstances to become unexpected PMs for short periods. Both were chosen by their party, which was leading the ruling national coalition. I have already mentioned Vajpayee of the BJP who was the only acceptable choice of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from 1998 to 2004. 

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was formed in 2004 with the Congress under Sonia Gandhi’s leadership as the leading party. She was the natural choice to become PM. But she declined and proposed Manmohan Singh to become the Prime Minister. Her choice was accepted by the party. Singh will complete nine years as PM  in May 2013.

I have given historical details of the selection of all our prime ministers since independence in order to bring out the fine and decent ways we have gone about in the past. It has always been the parliamentary way albeit with variations. Never has it been one man/woman against another. It has been one party against another. Of course, the personality of the leader and of the local candidate has played a significant role in the election.  In a country of India’s size, population and diversity, this has been the most sensible course to follow. And we have succeeded in a big way. Look at our neighboring countries and their volatile forms of governance. We have stability. We have growth. Slow and steady.

An election to be fought on the basis of projected prime ministers will be a national nightmare. The followers of Modi may want it that way. But the supporters of freedom and diversity will never want it that way. That is why I appreciate the decision of Rahul Gandhi not to fall prey to the manipulations of those who want him to be declared the prime ministerial candidate of the Congress. An expanding collective leadership with an empowered local leadership is definitely an attractive alternative.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 10.03.2013

One Year After Elections

It is one year today, March 3, 2013, since the last general elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly. The decisive verdict of the electorate to change the government has not resulted in anything decisive or spectacular. The people desperately wanted to throw out the Congress Government, and the Bharatiya Janata Party led by the then opposition leader, Manohar Parrikar, was the pragmatic choice. Over the year, the new government has tried to satisfy the people in many ways including doles, and promises of more doles. A more disciplined government. No scams and scandals yet. So far so good.

But a large number of people were not looking only for these changes. They had felt betrayed by the party that had ruled Goa for almost thirty years, minus few short gaps in 1990s and a longer one in 2000-2005. They wanted the sale of Goa’s limited land to be stopped. They had  a massive agitation to reject a regional plan that was going to destroy Goa forever, but no new plan was coming up to replace it although the people had participated in the process of formulating a new plan right at the village level. Almost all the gram sabhas of Goa had opted for rural status for themselves, and did not want gated communities and big residential complexes in their villages. The new  BJP led government has not kept its promise of promulgating a new plan, and keeps on postponing the same again and again. The new BJP led government is also delaying the resolution to demand special status for Goa in spite of promise of support by all political parties. Why is the government delaying these important decisions that all well wishers of Goa would welcome? Is it the intention of the Government to let things happen the way they were in the past? And take decisions when it is too late? As indicated in my column many times over the last one year, I have been a well wisher of the Chief Minister. With love for Goa deep in my heart, I am now getting disillusioned with him. And like me, many others too. It is our request to Chief Minister Parrikar to do what you have to do in this regard, and do it quickly.

The gram sabhas have their jurisdiction. Sometimes they pass resolutions which are beyond the scope of their jurisdiction. It may or may not be legally binding. But  most of the resolutions and demands, legally binding or not, are regarding their own villages, their own future. We read these reports in all our daily newspapers Monday after Monday, as gram sabhas meet on Sundays. Our Government, our MLAs, our MPs should listen to the voice of the people who have elected them to be where they now are. And act accordingly. And act quickly for time is running out. 

The opposition party in Goa, the Indian National Congress, is in deep slumber. A year has passed since the defeat, but the same politicians are holding office in the organization. The party president had resigned after the defeat, but still holds office as there has been no action by the high command to bring in a new team. With Lok Sabha elections scheduled for next year, the party should have been reactivated by now, ready to fight a challenging election in 2014. But nothing of that sort is happening. The legislative wing, with nine members, could have been a formidable opposition. But it looks like they lack either capacity or will power. They seem to be lost in the opposition benches, the same space used by the present Chief Minister to become a hero when he was the leader of opposition. That he dislikes opposition to his reign, forgetting his own role when in opposition, is another matter for mid course correction. Opposition has a vital role in the dynamics of a parliamentary democracy. But most of our present politicians are a pitiable lot who can function only from positions of power, not on the strength of the people they represent. Ideologies and manifestoes are dead. Egos and greed are the diesel on which their political engines run. What future can we expect from them?

It is the citizens who fight for their rights, who sacrifice their time at the local meetings, who take up leadership on important issues, who are concerned about the future of their state – these are the ones who are our future hope. Some of these should get into electoral politics and make the difference. If parties do not give them tickets, people will still vote for them as they have done in the past. Hasn’t the number of independents been increasing in our Assembly over the past few years? Some of them have been the best even though they are first time MLAs. We have five in the present Assembly. Next time, may be more.

As the Chinese proverb says it, a thousand mile journey begins with the first step. The march to the Legislative Assembly Elections should begin at least four years before.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 03.03.2013