prajwalana 8

PPPPPrajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalanarajwalana

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It was a very bright day, the scorching sun shonebright and blazing. It was around 3 O’clock, theroaring endless sea in front of us was beckoning . Iwas walking along the beach with two of my othercompanions. The breeze, still warm but bracing andbalmy, boosted our energy and gave us a spring towalk on the seashore. Among all these beautifulcreatures of God, we saw a fellow creature sittingnext to a boat and mending his net.He looked at us with surprise and welcomed uswholeheartedly. Then we got into a conversation.I would like to share with you the ‘interview’ wehad with him. I feel that this will help us all tounderstand the value of human labour.

Would you please tell us something aboutfishing and the preparation part of it?Well! Fishing is not as easy as some may think.It is very challenging and risky. So we need tobe ready for any eventuality, especially whenwe go out for a week or a month at a stretch.We take along all the necessary things likedrinking water, provisions, petrol, motor, lights,nets, ice, chemicals, medicine, knives, clothesand so on. Some of these things are veryexpensive. With all these preparations, we arenot sure that we will come back safe. So we pleadwith God to be with us and to protect us. Wealways pray together before going fishing.Why do you take such risks when you knowthat fishing is not easy, especially in the sea?Imagine you are a musician. Before learning toplay a musical instrument you are aware of thehard work entailed in learning it. And yet youpractice it, because you wish to become a greatmusician. When we want to achieve something,we go all the way without worrying too muchabout the challenges and risks. We are born andbrought up on this sea shore. We practically liveby the sea. We depend on the sea for ourlivelihood. The sea is our bread and butter. Wecannot suddenly stop all these works, becausewe have no other means of livelihood.Therefore, though it is very dangerous, we arehappy. We love the sea more than our lives,because she is the one who feeds us.

No Catch, No FoodWhat are the struggles youundergo during your hardwork?Surely, fishing is a highlyadventurous job. We gofishing with little security. Webelieve in the providence ofGod. We must carry enoughpetrol to run the engines. The big storms andthe violent sea are the biggest challenges. Thereis also a chance that our nets get torn by thefish. These nets are very expensive. Fishing isnot a part time job. Summer, winter or rainyseason, day or night, we have to work. Our catchis the source of our happiness in life. Our livingdepends on how big the catch is. Sometimes wedo not get enough; sometimes we get in plenty.When there is no catch, our stomach pinches.Also we are not so sure that each launch will besafe. We hope that it will be, because themembers of our family are praying for us. Weare secure only in God who created us, whoguides us, who leads and protects us.As the sun was setting, waters began to glitter.A flight of birds flew back to their nests. Thefisherman got up slowly, saying, “If there is nocatch, no food.” I could sense an expression ofgratitude in his eyes towards us for listening tohis story. But still, I was dumbfounded, as hegot ready to swim against the current, with hisboat.I began to ponder over the risk the fishermentake to earn their daily bread. Immediately thewords of St Paul came to my mind: “One whodoes not work should not eat.” But it is not thecase with these poor fishermen. Here if there isno catch, no food. So we see how so manypeople slog for their food, ready to encounterthe danger they would face. It was already dark.As we turned out steps to the Juniorate, we sawthe moon with her smiling face, the cool breezegently touching my whole being. The words ofthat fisherman were ringing in my ears: “If nocatch, then no food!”

Sch Nishant Noronha SJ


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How Do I Understand Education Today?Albert Einstein says "education is what

remains after one has forgotten everything helearnt in school". I too believe that education isnot only accumulation of information alone butmuch more than that. It's not only training one'smind but training hear and hands too. Educationdoes not take place only behind the four walls ofschool but also happens at home, in thesurroundings and in our day today living. I considerinformation and knowledge as two different things.Information can be forgotten at any time butknowledge remains with us because it becomespart of us. That's what education is for me.

Great Philosopher Aristotle says "educatingthe mind without educating the heart is noeducation at all". Indeed true education helps usto grow in honesty, truth and harmony. It makes usmore human. It motivates us to be broad minded.It removes or ignorance and prejudice. Thus Ibelieve that education sanctifies us. Trueeducation spreads the spark of equality. In theolden days education was meant only for the peopleof higher class. But today it is reached to all. Therewas a time when women were not allowed to beeducated but today women education is given somuch of importance. Education also breaks thebarriers of culture, creed caste religion, languageetc. People are growing in gender sensitivity. In thisway education paves way to create a just society

too.True education forms onescharacter increases the strengthof the mind and sharpens theintellect. As a result one is ableto stand on his own feet.Education extends human beingsgood will and love beyondcommunal racial and ethnic barriers. Bettereducation always produces a better culture. It givesdignity to a person. At the same time an educatedperson realizes his duty towards himself oneanother and society. Swami Vivekananda says"education is manifestation of perfection alreadyin man". Indeed education helps for the integraldevelopment of a human being.

As we are all well aware today educationis becoming one of the criteria to get a good job.Gone are those days when people sought gurus toget trained in their God given talents. Today moneydecides the field of our study. We find no goal inour studies but we are ready to flow with the crowd.The competition has grown so high it is difficultfor us take our stand. Education instead of makingus more sensitive and better humans it's makingus more arrogant and proud. Thus we continue tolive in ignorance. Our situation has grown so badwe hardly have time for value based education.

Nelson Mandela says "education is themost powerful weapon which we can use to changethe whole world". It's very true. Education shapesour lives, gives us direction, removes confusionsand fills us with hope and confidence. It makes usmore creative in our thinking and analysis.Education is not few years programme. It's anongoing process. I wish that our education mayhelp us to transform our lives to become betterhumans who are more sensitive, kind and thus wecreate a new world for all to live in peace andharmony.

Sch Ashwin Cordeiro SJ


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A Light to the Fading LightIt was quite dark when a lady shouted at us to makeway. I gracefully greeted her with a smile. Soon sheunderstood I was a Brother and was sorry for herbehaviour.

That day I had been to a new ministry.Getting toknow people and their life situation is God’s graceto me.

The old lady was just back from her daughter’shouse, bringing some vegetables, so that she could

prepare a little food for her paralyzed husband.Along with my companions I stood by the road-side,listening to her. She began her sharing by firstpointing out her present life situation, later thesharing gradually led into a more serious talk.

One of her sons was arrested by the police, onaccount of his heavy debts. Being jobless, the poorman could not repay his debts. The only fishingboat of that lady was lying unused, since herhusband lay paralyzed. It was not advisable to giveit on rent either, because most of them who mighttake it were drunkards, and wouldn’t pay regularly.Her present condition has been one of hand tomouth existence.

The above incident may appearto be a very common occurrence.But I would like to draw yourattention to the people who arewithout any job and find their lifea burden.

People are being cheated and illtreated in the name of providing labour. In the caseof fishermen they must keep their fingers crossed.Sometimes they are not sure they will be back tothe land; sometimes it is possible that their effortsresult in a very poor catch; sometimes the weathermay not permit them to launch out into the sea.

Many people are unemployed. They while awaytheir time. Add to it, they are addicted to rummy,drinking and other business games and lose eventhe last penny.

Most of the fishermen do not have a contentedand happy life. Though they try to lead a decentlife, either extraneous factors like bad weather,poor catch, etc. or their own weaknesses result ina very pathetic ending. It looks as if a happy life isnot meant for fishermen.

Now it is a great challenge for all of us to give athought to their situation. It is not only in the casewith fishermen alone, but there are thousands ofothers who are the victims of unemployment.

I strongly believe that one day everyone will live adignified life, provided we start sharing, caring andbeing more concerned about the marginalized.

It is very difficult but we are now compelled to dothis. All of us do feel at heart that our brothersand sisters also must lead a good life. As Jesuitswe have ample opportunities to be in touch withpeople. Let us make the best use of it so as to bean example to others who really feel at heart toserve others in need, but find it difficult to do so.

Sch George Varghese SJ


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Human Labour in general refers to human life-activity whose purpose is the production of goodsnecessary for human subsistence and therealization of human potential. In the Christianworldview human labour is an activity in which thehuman person cooperates with God in theunfolding of the potentialities of creation. Buttoday, we live in a context where labour is no longeran expression and realization of one’s potential buta commodity which could be bought and sold. Inthis process the worst affected are the least, thelast and the lost in society for whom labourprovides resources nothing more than just tosurvive on a daily basis. Despite the bleak situationin which we find ourselves today, the Church istrying to address various issues that revolve aroundhuman labour and find answers to them in themidst of confusion.In the Social Teachings of the Church we noticethat the Church is trying to interpret Scriptureaccording to the signs of the times and thataccordingly shapes the Tradition.Bible: The book of Genesis presents Yahweh as aworker (Creation story) who invites human beingsto be co-creators with Him. But, Human beingsfalter and sin, going against the will of Yahweh.The hard nature of work is a consequence of thefall of human beings. In the book of Proverbsidleness is discouraged and work is encouraged. Inthe New Testament we learn that Jesus himself wasa carpenter’s son. However His real work was not

Human Labour – A Christian Perspectivecarpentry but preaching anddoing the will of God. In the Actswe find Paul constantlyreminding people to do theirduties well. In general, the Bibleaccepts labour as an importantaspect of human realization andinvites us all to be partners inthis process.Magisterium: The teaching on Human Labour isfound in the social-encyclical “Rerum Novarum”(On the Condition of Labour, 1891) of Pope Leo XIII.Here the Pope examines the situation of the poorworkers in industrialized countries. He thenarticulates the role of the Church, workers,employers, the law and public authorities to worktogether to build a just society. “Gaudium et Spes”(The Church in the Modern World, 1965) of VaticanCouncil II is another document which affirms thathuman beings become partners with God inperfecting creation and become associated withthe redemptive work of Christ. The encyclical“Laborem Exercens” (On Human Work, 1981) byPope John Paul II sees work as a fundamentaldimension of human’s existence on earth. It is acall to transform nature through work, a call to beco-creators with God. The subjective dimension oflabour is upheld here. The person who does thework is more important than the work and respectfor the person is not based on the type of work onedoes. Hence, human labour is to better humancondition by sharing in the creative activity of God.Christian theology surrounding human labour finallyboils down to labour as a human vocation. It’s acall from God to create a new heaven and a newearth. It is an effort for a purpose which makes adifference in the world. The values of labour mustgo beyond production and should find itsfulfillment in upholding human dignity, creativityand participation. Only then, a human person canbecome a co-creator in the redemptive plan of Godby realization of his potential.

Sch Norwin Pereira SJ


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When we look around we find people with white,and blue collar jobs. Some well educated peopledo mostly sedentary work and they are well paid.Some are very good business persons who makemoney out of everything. A few others use theirtalents for art, music, sports, rhetorical skills, etc.to live a happy life. There are many others whowork very hard the whole day in the fields, factoriesand at various levels to eke out their living. Wecannot forget a few who use shortcuts like crimes,corruption and so on to lead their lives. We canconsider every person on this earth to belong toone or the other category.

Religious are very peculiar and strange in thisaspect. They can belong to any of these classes orto none of these classes. We find many religious,

who are very good administrators, educators,supervisors, social workers, etc. They are highlycapable, competent and committed. We wish thattheir work may be of great value to society. Wealso have a few business-minded religious who aimat profits. Instead of spreading the values of thekingdom of God, they are busy in meeting theirpersonal agenda; it is high time for them to wakeup.

There are many inspiring religious who are at theservice of the poor, the suffering and the needy;they are working very hard to bring comfort in theirneighbour’s life. We also know many religious whoare using their gifts for the Kingdom of God. Withtheir talents for art, music, communication,

Religious Today and Their Worksdialogue and so on they arespreading the good news of JesusChrist. It is also sad to see a fewreligious who are mediocre. Theyget good food and all the facilitiesin their communities. They needto be reminded of the words fromPaul to the Thessalonians (2 Thes3:10) - Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.This way there is a mixture of all these kinds ofworks among the religious today. Those who aremoving in the right direction must continue to givetheir best. Those who have gone astray should fallback to the spirit of their founder/ foundress.

There is also an outstanding characteristic in thereligious which distinguishes them from all theother categories of working people. This uniquefeature is selflessness. The religious do all thethings for the glory of God and for the good ofsociety. They leave behind everything and with thevows of poverty, chastity and obedience, are totallycommitted to the mission of God. They dedicatetheir lives to the service of God and people. Maythe good work done by the religious continue withgreater zeal and enthusiasm.

Sch Ovin Rodrigues SJ

Curiosity about life in all of itsaspects, I think, is still the

secret of great creative people

– Leo Burnett


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The world today is taking a giant leap towardsdigitalisation. As Jeff Jordan, a partner atAndreesen Horowitz, would say, “We are in themidst of a profound structural shift from physicalto digital retail. It is happening faster than I couldhave imagined.” In this context E-commerce hasmade its mark, by being relevant to the people ofthis generation. It has created an environmentwhere in the distance between the buyer and theseller has been shortened. Moreover it has givenmore convenience and the benefit of choice to “e-consumers”.

Today life has become complex with too manyworries, including that of frequent traffic jams, longqueues, high prices and brand manipulation. E-

commerce comes as a solution to most of theseproblems, as it provides varied services beginningfrom electronics, clothing, cosmetics and books,to reservation of movie tickets or tickets of anymodes of travel, E-commerce has come as a timesaving and a convenient option to many. Besides,it offers a variety of products or services along withits description and customer’s feedback, whichhelps the customers to make a right choice.

In today’s commercial world we often hear abouta kilo of tomato costing five rupees being sold fortwenty rupees. Here E-commerce has made itsimpact by offering products and services atreasonable prices. This happens because E-commerce undertakes its dealings without any

E-Commerce – A New Trendintermediaries; so there is noprice manipulation. It wasestimated that the total turnoverof all the e-commerceundertakings would crossRs10,000 crore during this Diwali.

E-commerce is showing a steadyprogress in India; it has 250.2 million internet users.The total turnover of all the online marketing firmswas estimated at Rs 25,500 crore in 2011 and it isexpected to increase up to Rs 54,800 crore by 2015.One of the online business giants, Flipkart had aturnover of Rs 600 crore on its Big Billion day, i.e.on 6th October, when huge discounts wereannounced on all products. But it had to pay theprice for it as the Enforcement Directorate (whichgoverns the rules and regulations of E-commerce)issued notices for violating the rules of fair tradepractices.

E-commerce offers 24x7 service, at anytime,anywhere and for anything. This makes itconvenient for the buyers. It has very lowoperational costs, as it hardly requires anyinfrastructure and even the labour cost is less. Thisensures steady increase in the profit margin. E-commerce increases the efficiency of the economyby creating competition in the market and avoidingmonopoly. The marketing options such as Cash ondelivery and Easy Returns attract Indians to E-commerce. Cross border transactions are carriedout without too many legal restrictions. If you takethe example of e-bay (foreign online seller), itreaches out to four million consumers of 3,311Indian cities. On the other hand around 15,000Indian sellers sell handicraft products to 112 millioncustomers spread across 190 countries. In this wayE-commerce will contribute 4% to the GDP by 2020.

It has not been easy going for E-commerce in India,beginning with the internet, which is yet to reach


¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯the frontiers. There is a need of last mileconnectivity too, a link chain to connect the remoteplaces. The other worry is high dropout rates byconsumers who opt for Cash on Delivery. Onlyonline payments will solve this problem. Besides,restrictions on FDI also affect E-commerce.

E-commerce does confront small businessestablishments. It has created an ‘adapt or die’scenario. Introduction of E-commerce has alsoreduced the customers at malls by 49.5% in Delhi.Above all, heavy price reductions do affect retailers.Hence the Enforcement Directorate has issuednotices to all the online retail firms.

But there is a way forward. Mall culture is just forentertainment and not for purchases. Peopleprefer to sit at home and shop online. It is the righttime wherein E-commerce has to focus on thesmaller towns, where mall culture has not yetpenetrated. Introduction of mobile apps proves tobe an easy method of promoting online shopping.Quick deliveries and customer satisfaction willcertainly promote online marketing. This willreduce price manipulation by middle men.Standard goods and services at a reasonable pricewith customer satisfaction will add value to E-commerce.

Sch Vishwas Misquith SJ

I wonder why people give credit to the persons whojust had the idea of building famous monumentsand sculptures and wonders of the world. Why dopeople appreciate Shahajahan for building theTajmahal, Yaqut of Dabul for Golgumbuz, andCaesar for Caesar’s Bridge across the Rhine, QuinShi Huang for building the Great Wall of China, bututterly fail to appreciate and recognize the hardwork of labourers, workers, masons and sculptors?

Why are the workers not recognized? They areimportant in building famous monuments andwonders of the world, aren‘t they? They play a vitalrole in the outcome of any particular structure. It

Aren’t They great?is they who stand as a strongpillar of any structure which isstanding tall and which makespeople stand in awe and wonderat its majesty, splendor, beautyand aesthetic brilliance.

Their work is hardly recognizedand appreciated. It might be the Idea or Plan of asingle mind to build a monument or a structure,but it is the hard work and love of many a workerthat brings reality or a form to a structure. Theyare the ones who shed their sweat and blood, evenat the cost of their lives thus they make the plan orthe idea of the monument or structure a reality.

Money and ideas cannot replace the skill, talentand hard work of the labourers or workers. Moneyand the idea/plan are just the tip of the icebergbut the hard work of the labourers is the actualIceberg. It is the worker who brings reality to plans,otherwise the plan just remains a mere plan.

We are all called to be labourers/servants on theearth. Let us learn to give dignity to labour,appreciate their hard work and skill.

Sch Kiran Leema SJ


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This year has been a year of several innovativecampaigns (abhiyaans). Campaigns do bring in alot of enthusiasm and are much highlighted in newschannels. But some questions still remain! Whydon’t they subsist longer? Do these campaignsreally target an effective change in immoralstructures that hamper good values or is thechange merely peripheral? Yes, if campaigns donot continue to address beyond personal motives,they will meet the same fate as the ‘India againstcorruption’ venture.This year the innovative fire began with the IceBucket Challenge in the West for a noble cause,namely, ALS (Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis) patientssuffering from the neuro- degenerative disease.Several celebrities gave a thumbs up for it. Due tothe growing global connectivity, it spread to Indiatoo. But it also faced criticism from several activistsdue to its negligent attitude towards ecologicalconcern of water wastage. Yet an alternatecampaign enthralled all. That was the Rice BucketChallenge (the typical desi flavour) to feed theneedy and poor. But my sympathy goes to anothercampaign, Mud Bucket Challenge (ecologicalinitiative of a biodiversity preservation group) thathardly made any headlines. What a plethora ofideas Sirji? 4G?

Similarly a few years ago we saw the ‘pink chaddi’campaign against ruthless moral policing in thesouth. Muthalik’s Sri Ram Sene was silenced andscared. This recently found its new shoot as wewitnessed its nuanced and innovative form ofprotest - in the ‘Kiss of love,’ a unique challengestarting in Kochi, Delhi, Mumbai and getting agrand response. It is due to spread to Bangaloresoon amidst controversies.

The political arena also learnt from thesecampaigns when we saw an innovative challenge,namely the Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan. It was awonderful move from a new government whichwanted to prove to the people that they too are

An integral Swacch Bharat? A new outlook at this Abhiyaanpro-people and pro-national. Itspoke well to the sentiments ofthe people. Many celebrities werechallenged to continue this nobleventure.But one thing that needs clarityis that these campaigns as suchwill not hit the core of the Indianpsyche, unless they force an attitudinal change.Swacch Bharat is a wonderful move like any othercampaign. But the Indian psyche has not yetunderstood the gravity of the matter of cleanlinessand the eco-friendly way of life because of itseffect. Eastern religions, by their charisma, see Godin every aspect of nature. But in practice adherentsof some religions cannot but find a place to litteranywhere and everywhere possible. It is a knownfact that Indians give utmost priority to keep theircompounds and house yards clean, but will not everfeel anything about dropping the dirt and wasteinto their neigbhour’s.

The reason for the failure of the above mentionedcampaigns is that they have not effected innertransformation. These have remained at theexternal realm as outward commitments orexternal actions. Only a campaign which speaks forand forces an attitudinal change will boost externalcleansing. For instance, the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaignis resisted because it has a message for animmediate attitudinal change. But we cannotcompromise with obscenity Who decides what isobscene is another big question.

We Indians need to get rid of our corrupt interiorlife’s issues. The day we begin to see nature andpeople as subjects we will cease to be corrupt andwill be clean from with in (conscience/heart). Thenexternal Swacchata will be relatively easy. The daywe see nature as having its share of respect forlife, that will be the day we will begin to respect itand keep it clean. This is the change needed beforeendorsing an external change.


¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯Therefore a possible alternative is an abhiyaan thatwould help Swacchathaabhiyaan, namely, Swacchtan-man-dhan Abhiyaan that will ultimately leadto SwacchRajneeti Abhiyaan. All these abhiyaansare interlinked.What we need today more, along with Swacch tan-man-dhanabhiyaan, is Swacch politics abhiyaan.But when will it change? Yes, only when there isan inclusive ‘Swacch Bharat’ beginning with interiorswacchatha.

Political sanitation is as important as sanitarycleansing. A new political culture is the need of thehour. That will lead to an integral Swacch Bharat.Swacchata must be internal first, then external. Weneed non-corrupt leaders to lead India in its driveto cleanse our nation. This is the ultimate Swacch

Bharat abhiyaan. When we don’t catch the devilby its horns we will not be able to tame it.Above all, there is need for ‘Swacch Mind’ ofgovernance. Our nation is truly in need of manyother Swacchata Abhiyaans like cleansing fromdiscrimination, communal tendencies and theconcocted concept of development. But let uscleanse our inner motives first. Then developmentwill not merely be signing projects that buildindustry and infrastructure and cleanse sacredrivers and build bullet trains. It will be adevelopment that will take into account the well-being of the poor, raising their living standards andbringing a smile on their faces. May the tribe ofAbhiyaanwalas with pure motives increase!

Sch Lancy Fernandes SJ

I am a catechism teacher in one of the parisheswhich is near our seminary. Once I thought oftaking the catechism class creatively. It was for the7th standard students. I prepared many questionsfrom the bible, with the idea of having aninteractive class. Most of my students are verynaughty and very active too. I asked manytheological questions; some they answered andsome they could not. As I was asking questions Isaw John on the last bench, sleeping. I woke himup and asked him a tricky question: “Why had thewoman in the Gospel who was married to sevenbrothers no children?” He stood up and almost likefooling me said, “Brother, the answer is so simple:the woman was barren.” On listening to his creativeanswer, I felt a bit embarrassed and told him to sitdown.

After some time I saw Peter talking and arguingwith his brother Andrew. I told them to stand upand asked what they were discussing. Andrewanswered gently, “Brother, we were talking aboutGod’s creation in Genesis.” I felt very happythinking that my students were mature enough.Then I asked them what their discussion was about.Peter said that they were arguing whether God

Creativity Requires Humilitycreated the egg first or the hen. Igot annoyed and asked them tostand on the bench. As theystood on the bench, Andrew toldme, “Brother, even after standingon the bench, we are not gettingthe answer, maybe there is norange here.” Suddenly Shaila gotup from the middle and asked me, “Brother, whydid God not like Cain’s offering?” Before I couldopen my mouth to answer her question, Shantistood up and said to Shaila, “You do not know sucha simple thing! God did not accept Cain’s offering,because God is a pure non- vegetarian. The entireclass started to laugh and make a lot of noise. Iwas not ready to give up the class, so I toldeverybody to stand up and recite the ‘Our Father.’Everybody was reciting it except Thomas. When Iasked him why he was not reciting the prayer, hesaid firmly, “Brother, today my mother hasprepared Biryani, and hence there is no need ofbread; so I will recite the prayer tomorrow.” By thenthe time got over. I slowly walked out of the class,realizing that “CREATIVITY REQUIRES HUMILITY.”

Sch Preethesh Misquith SJ


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We are all aware of the multinational companies.An MNC is such a company that operates indifferent countries by means of production andservices. MNCs play an important role in a country’seconomy as well as in the world at large. Thebudget of some MNCs is so high that at times theyeven exceed the GDP of a nation.It all began after liberalization, as a part of theeconomic reforms in 1991. The goal was to makethe Indian economy market oriented and to expandthe role of the private and foreign investment. Thegoal was achieved partially. From then on, many

other companies saw rich arenas of the marketespecially to make their business flourish in India.On the other hand these corporations have thespecific goal of earning profit as any business isexpected to do. Some corporations even expandtheir jurisdiction beyond their native places whenthey get a wider scope to earn profit and alsoacquire consumers’ confidence. Further, the risingpopulation of India promises macro scope of marketand enormous profit to MNCs.There is no doubt that these MNCs contributed alot to the development of India. Unused resourceswere widely used, technological advancement, jobcreation and overall stability of the economy aresome of the major achievements of MNCS in India.Today MNC’s contribute inversely in increasing

Multiple Effects with Multiple DefectsForeign Direct Investment andthus contribute largely towardsGross Domestic Production andin decreasing balance ofpayments.On the other hand MNCs alsohave a major influence on ourlives. Western culture is alreadyundermining our traditional heritage. Labourers aresqueezed for maximum profits to the neglect of theirhealth and safety issues. Tough competition israised among local companies which normallycannot face it. The only way that is left to them isto surrender and shut off! MNC’s are alsoinculcating the feeling of subservience amongIndians. Their contribution to job creation ismarvellous, but that is also to their selfishadvantage by using cheap labour in India. Also theyplay subtle politics as they get the policies suitedto their needs by bribing bureaucrats. Scams stillexist as we witnessed recently in the Flipkart bigbillion conflict.The trend of consumerism is also a fruit of theMNCs. This is because MNCs hardly concentrateon long term services but only meet temporarymindset and taste of consumers. Now people onlyflock to malls for all their needs, and the localmarket seems to be deserted. All are ready to payhigher costs, even double the amount and evenspend much time at mall quarters, which seems tobe a new trend among simple, middle class people.Youth get blindly absorbed by offers and discountswithout realizing the techniques of selfish hawkers.All this gives us the message to be more analyticalthan hypothetical in our thinking aboutconsumption.It is high time that we ponder over whether we arelosing something precious without our awareness.We often tend to evaluate results on the nationallevel, but when it comes to our own home, surelywe end in nostalgic disgust. It looks to me that thetime has come when we need to be prepared forthe worst.

Sch Prashanth Saldanha SJ


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God created this world out of his overflowing love.Human being is a child of God, made in His imageand likeness. Is a child of God in any way a butterflyor a stone is not? If so then what is special about ahuman being? Is it our capacity to love? Eventhough it may be a kind of love we share with therest of the animal kingdom, it would seem there isa specifically human form of love that involves ourimagination, our emotions, our intellect and ourvolitional consciousness. If there is any threat tothis imagination or feeling or thinking or willing, itis a threat to human dignity.

Let us look at the worth of a human being in acapitalist society. Human beings are gripped by

c o m m o d i t yconsciousness. As aresult, their focus is noton the notion of thedevelopment of thehigher powers, but onthe accumulation ofthings. So it followsthat they seek

fulfillment not by learning to love in progressivelydeeper and broader ways but by becoming thingsacquirers, toy gatherers and fruit tasters. Theirfocus is an affront to human dignity, a sort of saying‘no’ to what human beings are and settling forbeing less than what humans are. Having more ismore important for them than being more.Since Genesis there have been at all times humanbeings who always wanted much more than theyneeded, who strove to accumulate much morethan they needed, and who treated other humanbeings either as obstacles to their pursuits or aspotential instruments in their attainment. Evenothers are obstacles; the usual tendency is to getthem out of the way through deceit, black mail,bribery or even murder. e.g. Cain and Abel. Whenpeople are considered to be instruments, the taskis to make full and profitable use of them. e.g.

Commodification of the Human Being in the Capitalist Economyslavery in Egypt. Today, thingshave become people, and peoplehave become things. Slavery isone of the most dramatic formsin which other humans areviewed as property and turnedinto a commodity to be used andexchanged. The tendency to thinkof only one’s own fulfillment results in the tendencyto commodify other human beings.

Contemporary aspect:

Greed and enslavement are the perennial forms ofcommodity consciousness. The capitalist greed formoney is matched by a consumer greed forcommodities. Human development could be a kindof commodity consciousness in today’s world. Thecapitalist economy puts profit above people andthereby creates a gap between the rich and thepoor, the haves and the have not’s.Commodity consciousness and humanfulfillment:

Even if we consider that because of commodityconsciousness human beings have exerted andextended themselves, unleashed their imagination,had creative insights, made full use of theirdeliberative powers, planned carefully and carriedout projects with determination and self discipline,and even if it be granted that in doing so, theyhave actuated their higher human powers, still thequestion remains whether the people engaged init are, by that very fact, bringing about humanfulfillment of others who will taste the fruits of theirefforts. Does it follow that they are fulfillingthemselves as human beings? The answer to boththese questions is, ‘no’. Neither the producer northe consumer who are gripped by commodityconsciousness can attain human fulfillment.People think that new and better commodities willmake life better in all respects. Such a thinking is amythical delusion of commodity consciousness.


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Addressing the threats:God loves the world to fulfill the world; God callsand empowers human beings to love others in thesame way. Therefore every human being has worth,dignity and value in himself or herself. We cannever reduce human beings to a commodity. If wedo so, it speaks much about the self-worth, dignityand value that we have for ourselves. Thereforeserious introspection is necessary in our way of

life. The way we live and the way we relate toothers, manifests our relationship with God. Theinner emptiness and insecurity of the person ismanifested in a commodification of human beings.We can make this world a better place to live inonly when we share with others and considerothers as partners on the journey of our life onthis earth.

Sch Antony Pais SJ

In the present millennium many ideologies havetried to dominate the world. But only one thingseems to have achieved its goal, which has createdinequality and threatens to tear apart the worldinto two parts. It is more powerful than any otherpower in the world and greater than any otherreligion, and that is consumerism. Massconsumption had its roots in the theory of ScientificManagement which was proposed by FredricWinslow Taylor. This resulted in unlimitedproductivity and reduced the costof commodity. By this began anenormous production andconsumption at lower prices. Onthe other hand, even whenconsumer goods were not used,the industries kept on producingthem for their survival. To stopthis problem a new conceptcame up, that is, to buy and waste the thingsin order to improve the economy. This conceptprojected a new deceit on society that moreconsumption leads to a better living. The mainmotive behind all this is nothing but profit, bywhatever means possible, even exploiting theweak.

Today, advertisements have become a channel ofdeception, which can persuade people to buy aproduct at any cost. This consumerism has spoiledthe social status of the nation. Today’s educationis more focused on earning than on learning human

Does Your Consumption Make You Think?values. People have become soselfish that they have forgottenthe society in which they areliving. People believe thatpossessing costly and brandproducts will increase theirstatus and dignity. But at thehuman level it has created a darkcloud of sadness. There is disrespect for elders,

emotional imbalances, lack ofsatisfaction, and lack of self-awareness and absence of truelove. Today’s friendships andfamily life shifts have becomeartificial. Modern life of ease and

comfort is filled with deadgadgets which provide nolasting satisfaction.

It was Adam Smith whoprovided an economic system that led tocapitalism, and consumerism is its by-product.Because of consumerism, we keep on buying andthrowing away things and there will be no end toit. As the population increases, production andwastage too increase and these will surely affectour ecosystem. Consumerism is the poison whichdiverts the mind from the purpose for which thehuman being is created. We need to respect andlove nature, and nature in its turn will love andrespect humanity in its own way for its betterment.

Sch Joswin Pereira SJ


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“Nurse the baby, care the child and free the adult”says, Alexander Hamilton. The baby, the child andthe adult here refer respectively to the under-developed, developing and the developedeconomies. Before the Second World War freetrade existed in the world economy, permittinginternational flow of goods and services withoutany artificial restrictions. Trade was a mutualexchange of resources and services from oneeconomy to another. However in the early daysfollowing the Second World War various countriesbuilt in a barrier and adopted trade restrictions. Itwas here that world economies split into developed,developing and under-developed economies.Hence after various conferences and deliberationsa number of policies have been formulated toprotect each nation’s trade, to nurse the under-developed nations and to encourage the developingnations by the developed nations of the world.India has grown from being a baby to a child. TheWTO, the Union of countries and integrationamong nations have brought about a process ofdevelopment. The rise in the industrial countries(BRICS) Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africahas generated a sense of optimism towards thepossibility of development albeit of a moremeasured character than in the 1950’s. Even if theentire South is not likely to develop it isundoubtedly the case that a small number ofcountries have experienced a genuine success intheir ventures. Will the late developing countriessucceed in the struggle to modernise theireconomies and catch up with the more advancedcountries or are they destined to fall even furtherbehind?As each type of existence on this planet has its ownlife cycle, economy too has five business cycles,depression, recovery, boom, inflation andrecession. Some economists are so attached to thenotion of growth that they can’t let go of that word,so they refer to recession as a time of negativegrowth. Centuries of economic deprivation andneglect coupled with isolation from the

Misplaced Faith in Economy’s Growthmainstream of Indian states hadresulted in widespread poverty,unemployment and economicbackwardness of the peopleliving in the northern states likeKashmir, Manipur, and Tripuraetc. Economic neglect and lack ofdevelopment generally createinequality and disparity. These reach anunsustainable level when there is a failure ofgovernance whose primary responsibility it is toaddress the causes of such disparity. In the absenceof governance, extreme inequality and disparityoften lead to violence and militancy.The justification made regarding the growth is, thatrapid economic growth will bring prosperity andwealth to all Indians, removing poverty, hunger andinjustice. That high growth rates can make India aland of milk and honey is a myth. 70% of Indiaremains deprived of basic needs of one kind or theother, employment in the formal sector has hardlygrown, and undernourishment andmalnourishment are on a high. Inequalitiesbetween the rich and poor are growing significantlyand ecologically unsustainable situation hasalready set in. The more we go in for large scaletechnology and intensive, capital investments,these problems will only get aggravated. Modi’s‘Make in India’ slogan can well be stated in the fullform “Make Money in India.” As someone stated,it is highly profitable to invest in the Indian sharemarket rather than to start a business in India. Thispaves the way for the MNC’s to enter India andmake their investments and return home with highgains providing a little employment to the hostcountry. Sacrificing ecological growth, the economic growthhas taken prime importance. The dire competitionamong the countries to be an adult (Developednation) is the only reason causing the imbalanceand destruction of the various strands in the webof life.

Sch Avinash D’Souza SJ


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Creativity can be summed up in the phrase ‘LettingGo.’ I was uncomfortable with the very word whenI began my Jesuit journey. When I reflect on thoseinitial days and ask myself why I felt so then, theinsight that I received enlightened me. I reducedcreativity to art and painting and drawing andthermocol cutting and the like. I am no good at itas many other computer savvy people might be;but does that mean that I can’t be creative? Thatis merely one type of creativity. Creativity grows

out of limit situations. To be creative means to beready to experience changes around you. To becreative is to embrace challenges and to learn fromthe hard realities of life. And for all this, one has to‘Let Go.’

Is systematic lifestyle diametrically opposed tocreativity? To be creative, have we to beunorganized? Well, I believe that even highlysystematic people can be creative. There is acertain order in the universe and yet there isdisorder. The universe is unpredictable; time andtime again when God chooses to surprise us, He isbeing creative. Creativity emerges fromrandomness. It springs from taking time off a daily

Creativity: Letting Goroutine. In fact what we thinkabout when we have nothing tothink about is being creative.

In this fast moving and internetage everything is at lightningspeed and we look for instantresults. Creativity does notemerge as fast as we would likeit to. It is a process that takes place at leisure.Creativity relaxes. It helps at times to take rest andthen give, live and work with ever renewed vigourand zeal.

Creativity needs a courageous self. It oftenscandalizes others when we dare to be different,but we ought to be prepared to face theconsequences. It is important to finish doing acreative task before you start to lose faith inyourself. Creativity does not spend much time inrehearsing or thinking or doing a kind of self talkall the time with nothing concrete in reality even ifwe are not experts at it. A creative person is notafraid to experiment.

Let me sum up. Keeping to a routine is important,so also is being organized, may not be so much forour own selves as we can always find order indisorder, but for the sake of others who put upwith us. However, creativity lies in taking time offfrom the humdrum of life. Creativity has to showitself in the Sitz im Leben – life situations. If wethink that there exists a time for ourselves wherewe can express our creativity, that time will nevercome. What drives me always forward when Ireflect on creativity is the words of late Steve Jobs,“stay hungry, stay foolish.” It is a searching mindthat can never rest from being creative. We mayrun out of ideas if we only rely on ourselves all thetime. Reading, reflection and, more so, seekinginspiration from others can help us in this ourcreative venture.

Sch Ryan Rodrigues SJ


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In one of my classes, I once asked a girl, what sheassociated with art and her reply was quick andstraight, “emotion”, “expression” and “creativity.” Iam sure many of us would arrive at a similarconsensus. Though the first two may be confinedto arts, creativity transcends arts and permeatesinto all spheres of human activity. We see creativityin science, business, technology and every field ofspecialization. Our book stores are filled with bookson creativity like “Lateral thinking,” “Think outsidethe box” and so on. There is a hunger for somethingnew, a longing for something different and an urgefor innovation.

Creativity or creative activity provides an impetusto live a fuller life to all those who engage in it.Among the many definitions of humans, “humanbeings are creative beings,” is one. In creativeactivity humans give expression to themselves.Therefore, creativity is not reserved only to artists,writers, philosophers or musicians, but is open toeveryone.

The notion of creativity has various nuances andcan be explored from various perspectives. But, inthis brief article, I would like to reflect on it from atheological perspective. After reflecting on the rootof human creativity and its origin, I will go on toreflect on what real creativity is and what it doesto human beings.

The root of human creativity:

Human creativity stems from the fact of beingcreated as human. Genesis 1: 26 – 27 reveals,“”Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, inour likeness...’ So God created man in his own image,in the image of God he created him; male andfemale he created them.” In these texts, we seeprimarily that God created humans according todivine image and likeness; therefore, humans sharein the life of God and participate in His work.But what does it really mean to be created in God’simage and likeness? The key phrase is, “image andlikeness.” The Hebrew word for “image” is “selem”

Creativity – In the Likeness and Image of Godwhich means a duplicate or anidol, and for likeness it is“demut,” which meansappearance, similarity, analogy orcopy. Though these words havecreated considerable confusionamong the scholars, most agreethat both are complementary,each making the proposition more precise.

It basically means that we are a snapshot orfacsimile of God. At the least it means that humansalone are imprinted with a God-like character. Our

greatest fulfilment is to fully actualize thisgodlikeness.

Human creative power originates from God:God is the only true Creator, while human creativityis part of God’s image and likeness given to man atcreation. We create because God created, and weare creative because God is creative: “In thebeginning God created the heavens and the earth”(Genesis 1:1). However, God creates out of nothing(“ex nihilo”), while human can “create” only outof pre-existing things. Further, human is whollydependent upon God in his/her creativity becausehis/her creative ability, his/her very existence, andthe pre-existing “raw materials” he/she uses allcome to him/her from God.


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Implications of being created as creative beings:

Having been created in God’s image, and beingbestowed with godlike capacities we are not justfinished products. Unlike Plato’s notion of idealforms, our creativity is not just the carbon copiesof that absolute form, but rather as Aristotle putsit, our creativity rests not so much in being as inbecoming. Each one of us has the potential toexpress our creativity, though distinctively. Weought to express ourselves and thereby actualizeour true human nature, which is to be godlike.

True creativity and false creativity:

Creativity can never be restricted to innovativethoughts, novel ideas, and path-breakinginitiatives. True creativity can never be isolatedfrom the well-being of people, never blind to thecries of nature and environment. But, sadly, todaycreativity is confined to brilliant ideas to sellproducts, innovative and effective methods toeliminate vast populations, systematic organizationof oppressive societies, and ruthless plundering ofnatural wealth - this is false creativity.Characters of true creativity:

1. True creativity rests on the firm foundation ofGod.

2. True creativity helps humans to channelize theirintellect, will and emotion in life-promoting andlife-sustaining direction.

3. True creativity transforms human work into anact of charity in loving service, especiallytowards the deprived and discriminated people.

4. True creativity brings into awareness theinterconnectedness of things at the very organiclevel.

5. True creativity works for the completerealization of human rights.

6. True creativity makes us not destroyers anddominators of nature but protectors andstewards of creation.

Conclusion:

Through creativity, we become partners in God’screating and saving plan. We are called to put onthe mantle of Christ to have a new creative abundantlife (Rom 6:4, Jn 15:11). True creativity lies inactualizing the image and likeness of God freelybestowed on us, by becoming aware of the radicalinterrelatedness with all creation, and thusbecoming persons who promote and protect liferather than dominate over and destroy life.

Sch Sujay Daniel SJ

A WRINKLE IN TIMEA WRINKLE IN TIMEA WRINKLE IN TIMEA WRINKLE IN TIMEA WRINKLE IN TIMEA little girl got on her grandpa's lap and said,"Did God make me?""Yes," the grandpa replied."Did God make you too?""Yes," the grandpa said."Well," the little girl said, looking at his wrinklesand thinning hair. "He sure is doing a better jobnowadays!"

"Imagination is the beginning of creation. Youimagine what you desire, you will what youimagine, and at last, you create what you will."

George Bernard Shaw

prajwalana 8

Education

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biggest challenges