Freedom @ 75! Whose?

Freedom @ 75! Whose?

 Today is the 15th of August, India’s Independence Day. We carry a piece by Peace Activist and writer Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, who asks a few searching questions that thinking citizens should ponder about. The article has been slightly edited for clarity- Editor. The official lines on this ongoing festival of Independence state, “Azadi Ka […]

India and Pakistan show solidarity with Quake hit Afghanistan

India and Pakistan show solidarity with Quake hit Afghanistan

An earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has left at least 1,000 people dead. The quake struck shortly after 2:30 AM India Time on Wednesday. Heavy rain and strong winds were major hurdles to search and rescue efforts late Wednesday. The massive earthquake killed more than 1,000 and injured more than 1,600, government officials said. The earthquake […]

13 new deaths, 18 percent citizens re-infected with Covid-19

13 new deaths, 18 percent  citizens re-infected with Covid-19

India has reported 2374 new Covid cases today taking the total number of active Covid cases to 81687, 0.19 per cent higher. 13 new deaths have been reported today taking the death toll 1.2 per cent higher at 524903. Official figures from Delhi on Monday stood at 1,060 new Covid cases in a day and […]

Assam: Underwater State?

Assam: Underwater State?

In the last 24 hours, southern Assam’s biggest town Silchar has been inundated. According to media report the town of Silchar has never experienced this such severe flooding before.. In Assam 32 out of 36 districts have been affected by extreme rainfall and resultant flood. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), since April […]

Dear John, FYI, It’s getting Worse, See? : United Christian Forum

Dear John, FYI, It’s getting Worse, See? : United Christian Forum

“The narrative of religious intolerance and hatred has swept the country unfortunately.” The United Christian Forum (UCF) has written a letter to the Union  Minister of State for Minority Affairs John Barla, calling attention to the ‘failure’ of police and district administrations in several states to ‘investigate and prosecute mobs and perpetrators.’ UCF has also […]

Are You a ‘Friend of Trees?’

Are You a ‘Friend of Trees?’

Today is World Environment day. A ‘National Summer Camp ‘  held at Prayagraj [Allahabad]  this week [June 1- 5] was one of the many ways that Tarumitra, India’s largest youth environment movement is celebrating World Environment Day. The World Environment Week Celebrations, was organized by Tarumitra Prayagraj  and  attended by student representatives of various high […]

33 Konkani Associations honour ‘Fearless Cedric’

33 Konkani Associations honour ‘Fearless Cedric’

The Federation of Konkani Catholic Associations (FKCA) has announced that  Jesuit Priest and Human Rights and Peace activist and writer  Father Cedric Prakash is to be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Social activists and human rights campaigners are very familiar with the name of Cedric Prakash. He is a Jesuit working in Gujarat. He […]

Syrian Bishop warns: ‘Losing India’s fundamental Character’

Syrian Bishop warns: ‘Losing India’s fundamental Character’

“The biggest issue we are facing is that we are quickly losing India’s fundamental character,” the Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Bishop Yuhanon Mar Meletius of the Thrissur diocese, has stated in an interview that has been picked up by several Indian newspapers. Bishop Yuhanon, also addressed as Metropolitan, has given the interview […]

Northeast relieved as students from Ukraine return

Northeast relieved as students from Ukraine return

Students from the Northeast caught up in the Russian-Ukraine conflict are being rescued  and flown back  to their homes. As per media reports, 13 youngsters from Assam, 11 from Meghalaya, and four from Tripura are back on Indian soil. A report from Agartala says four Tripura students out of 32 reached India and 13 others […]

Church takes on ‘lies, half-truths, misleading facts’

Church takes on ‘lies, half-truths, misleading facts’

Catholic priests and nuns in Kerala have become pro-active about the ‘deliberate attempts’ to malign their image, but what’s beneath the surface? Taking serious note of the rising trend to defame the Church in mainstream media and social media platforms, priests and nuns have stopped playing the role of passive victims. Catholic officials in Kerala […]

Sense and Sensibility should prevail over Pride and Prejudice : Madras High Court

Sense and Sensibility should prevail over Pride and Prejudice : Madras High Court

In an atmosphere of increasing animosity towards religious minorities by rightwing groups in India, the Madras High Court in Tamil Nadu state recently delivered a judgement stressing the need for religious tolerance towards other religious practices.  The Court was dealing with a writ petition from a Hindu man challenging the permission granted by the Kanyakumari […]

Human Fraternity: a tall order for India?

Human Fraternity: a tall order for India?

On all counts 4 February 2019 was a memorable day for the world! On that day, Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad al-Tayyib, met in Abu Dhabi, and together signed the historic and path-breaking document entitled ‘Human fraternity for world peace and living together’. The document is one of the most comprehensive […]