Decision on choosing a poll candidate

Decision of voting
- CAMIL PARKHE Friday, 11 April 2014 - 08:12 PM IST Sakal times

“To whom should we vote now?”, that was the question debated among senior members of my family who had huddled together just before venturing out for voting.  I was a minor then and not eligible to vote. But the question perplexed me. I had assumed that my parents and elders brothers would surely vote for the Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate Comrade P B Kadu, who was a well known labour leader. During the heated arguments that used to take place among the gathered people in our shop during the poll campaign, most would agree that the Communist leader was most suited to represent Kopargaon constituency in  the Lok Sabha.  

This incident relates to the 1971 Lok Sabha polls when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was seeking votes for her Congress (I) party soon after the historic victory in 1971 war and creation of  Bangladesh. A young Congressman, Balasaheb Vikhe, was for the first time contesting as the Congress candidate in the parliamentary constituency. Ahmednagar district which had then a large number of private and cooperative sugar factories was a  bastion of the Left parties. I was a school student then and after listening to the poll debates, I too thought Comrade Kadu was the best candidate to vote for. 

The plans of the elders in the family to switch poll loyalty and vote for the Congress candidate dismayed me. I was curious to know what had changed their mind. Their arguments explained that to me. 

“What can a single Communist leader do in Parliament when the ruling party in the country is the Congress? It's better to vote for a candidate who will belong to the ruling party and help to bring some development to our area...” this was the chorus at the  small meeting which concluded soon as the voting  was to close within a couple of  hours.

After this election, I have covered several state assembly and  general elections for newspapers  in Goa and Maharashtra. But this incident taught me how poll prospects change or are  decided at the last moment of the voting. And this is most crucial in the poll outcome. So keep the fingers crossed...!    

Church renews call to elect secular govt

Church renews call to elect secular govt

- CAMIL PARKHE Sunday, 13 April 2014 - 07:08 PM IST

Pune: On Palm Sunday, just three days before the Lok Sabha polls, the Catholic Church in western Maharashtra renewed its call to people to vote for the parties promising a secular, democratic government in the country. 

The appeal to elect secular parties committed to safeguard interests of the minorities was read out in all churches in Pune diocese during the anticipatory masses on Saturday evening and on masses held on Sunday morning and evening. 

Pune bishop Thomas Dabre has issued the appeal in keeping with a recent circular issued by Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

In a pastoral letter issued in February this year, the then CBCI president and Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias that the “Catholic Church does not identify herself with any political party. But we have a responsibility as bishops to urge every eligible citizen to vote and do so prudently, carefully and judiciously. All our parish priests are urged to impress on the people their obligation in this regard.”

The letter added,” The Catholic Church earnestly hopes that the general elections will give us leaders who understand the anxieties of the people. We need leaders who will uphold the secular character of our nation and promote communal harmony and a spirit of inter-religious dialogue.,care for the minorities and weaker sections of society, safeguard the rights of tribals and grant equal rights to dalit Christians, equal to those given to other dalits.” 

Major Archbishop of Trivandrum Cardinal Baselios Cardinal Cleemis who was elected CBCI president 

had endorsed Cardinal Gracias' appeal and also called special prayers on April 6 to enable “citizens of India to elect best persons who will stand for the moral values and principles in public life and uphold the democratic and secular character of our great nation.” 

For clean politics

Catholic Association of Poona president Diago Almeida said that the Church's appeal did not mean canvassing for any party or candidate but seeking election of non-corrupt and secular representatives. 

St Xavier’s Church in Chinchwad to be dedicated on Sunday

St Xavier’s Church in Chinchwad to be dedicated on Sunday
- CAMIL PARKHE Tuesday, 25 February 2014 - 07:40 PM IST
Tags: St Xavier’s Church, Chinchwad, Bishop Thomas Dabre, Emeritus Bishop Valerian D'Souza,Camil Parkhe

Pimpri: The newly constructed St Francis Xavier Church in Chinchwad, will be dedicated by Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre on Sunday, March 2 evening. 

The new church, with a balcony and spacious parking lot, will be one of the largest churches in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. 

The church's Parish Priest Fr Simon Almeida told Sakal Times that the novena prayers of St Francis Xavier are being conducted during the church's daily evening mass, nine days prior to the dedication ceremony.  

The relics of St Francis Xavier, the Jesuit saint, after whom the church is named, will ceremoniously be taken from the altar of the old church (established in 1972) to the new church on the eve of the blessing of the new church on March 1. 

A souvenir will also be released by Bishop Dabre at the dedication ceremony which will be attended by Emeritus Bishop Valerian D'Souza and a large number of priests and parishioners from various churches in the city.

The work for the new church building had commenced in July, 2012. The church parishioners and others had raised funds for the construction and an equal amount will be contributed by the Pune diocese. 

The various church institutions under St Francis Xavier Church parish include St Andrew's and St Ursula High Schools, Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) Home, Ashakiran Health Centre and Don Bosco Professional Training Centre. The church has over 3,000 parishioners.  

160 years of German Jesuit Mission in western India

Home » Pune » Detail News     0   0   Copy URL Celebrations to mark 160 years of German Mission to begin from Dec 3 - CAMIL PARKHE Sunday, 1 December 2013 - 02:21 PM IST Tags: Jesuits, arrival, Western India, feast Pune: The Jesuits here will launch a year-long celebration to mark the 160th jubilee year of the arrival of the German, Swiss and Austrian Jesuits in western India on the feast of St Francis Xavier, on December 3.  The jubilee celebrations will commence with a thanksgiving mass celebrated by Emeritus Bishop Valerian D'Souza at St Xavier's Church in Pune Camp at 7 pm.  An exhibition of photographs of veteran Jesuits, who worked in Pune province, will also be organised at the Church premises. Speaking to Sakal Times, Fr Andrew Fernandes, Principal of St Vincent's High School and parish priest  of St Xavier's Church, said that a calender on various Jesuits institutions in Pune province will also be released to mark the 160th jubilee year.  Some of the veteran Jesuits who worked in Pune province include Fr Rudolf  Schoch, Fr Alphons Oesch, 'Snehasadan' founder Fr Matthew Lederle, former Pune Bishop Henry Doering, and rural development works pioneer in Ahmednagar district Fr Herman Bakher, who recently celebrated his 89th birthday.  Jesuits have established a large number of institutions in western India, which comprise present Jesuit provinces of Pune, Mumbai, Goa and Gujarat.   Pune Jesuit Provincial Fr Bhausaheb Sansare said that various activities will be organised to mark the jubilee and to evaluate the Jesuits' role in spiritual and other fields. The Pune Jesuit province comprises of Pune, Ahmednagar, Beed, Kolhapur, Satara and Sangli districts. Some of the Jesuits-run city institutions include St Vincent's High and Higher Secondary School, Stephen Niwas youth hostel, St Vincent's College of Commerce, St Joseph's Night High School, all in Pune Camp, Loyola School and Junior College, Pashan, St Joseph's Technical Institute, Swargate,  Snehasadan Institute, De Nobili College and Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth on Nagar Road, and Berchman's Training College in Vitthalwadi.  About the Jesuits Jesuits are members of the Society of Jesus, a congregation of Roman Catholic priests. The Jesuits belonging to the German Province and hailing from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, had arrived in western India in 1854 to start pioneering  works in education, social work and literature.   0   0   Comment Dr. Ajit Lokhande - Sunday, 1 December 2013 - 03:56 PM IST The book „Mission, Missionaries and Me“ is being published on 3rd Jan. 2014 on this occasion. Publisher: Jesuit Provincial Fr. Bhausaheb Sansare. The book contains rich and inspiring information on the social, educational and missionary work by the Jesuit Order in the Ahmednagar Dist. More details are available with Fr. Joe Pithekar, S.J, Tel. 9422534691

Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth to celebrate 60 yrs of shifting to Pune

Home » Pune » Detail News   0 0 Copy URL JDV to celebrate 60 yrs of shifting - CAMIL PARKHE Thursday, 21 November 2013 - 11:06 AM IST Tags: Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, JDV, autonomous university, courses, philosophy, theology,diamond jubilee, Pune, Camil Parkhe PUNE: Ramwadi-based Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (JDV), an autonomous university conducting graduate and postgraduate courses in philosophy and theology, will start a year long diamond jubilee celebration next year to commemorate the 120-year-old institution's transfer from Kandy in Sri Lanka to Pune. An alumini association, led by Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Church, has been formed as a part of the diamond jubilee celebration. A committee formed to finalise various activities for the diamond jubilee celebrations held its first meeting recently. The meeting was attended by JDV acting president Fr Jeorge Pattery, theology faculty dean Fr Thomas Kuriacose, philosophy, faculty dean Fr James Ponniah and treasurer Fr Alex. Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth name was given in 1972 to the Pontifical Athenaeum which was founded by Pope Leo XIII as a Papal Seminary in Kandy. The Vatican had then entrusted the institution's administration to the Society of Jesus. The then Jesuit Superior of Pune Fr Pius Geisel had supervised the JDV's transfer and relocation to Pune in 1955. The JDV offers graduate and postgraduate courses in religion, philosophy, spirituality, science and religion, and management. At present, clergy and nuns from 65 dioceses and 68 religious congregations of South Asia and abroad are studying at the JDV. The Jesuit Provincial of South Asia is ex-officio vice-chancellor of JDV and the chairperson of its trust. The institute is now open to all students, irrespective of creed or gender, who fulfil its admission requirements. JDV Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth (JDV) name was given in 1972 to the Pontifical Athenaeum which was founded by Pope Leo XIII as a Papal Seminary in Kandy. The Vatican had then entrusted the institution's administration to the Society of Jesus. The then Jesuit Superior of Pune Fr Pius Geisel had supervised the JDV's transfer and relocation to Pune in 1955. 0 0

Tata Motors Grihini Society empowers women

Tata Motors Grihini Society empowers women http://www.sakaaltimes.com/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsId=5333228329786710334&SectionId=5494605966908300850&SectionName=Civic&NewsDate=20131023&NewsTitle=Tata%20Motors%20Grihini%20Society%20empowers%20women
- CAMIL PARKHE Wednesday, 23 October 2013 - 03:50 PM IST
Tags: Tata Motors, Tata Motors Grihini Social Welfare Society, employees, wome, industry, Pimpri,Camil Parkhe

PIMPRI: Tata Motors Grihini Social Welfare Society, the cooperative society of women relatives of Tata Motors employees, has empowered its over 1,000 members.

Tata Motors Grihini Social Welfare Society was founded in 1973 with seven women members. Today, it has four registered affiliated cooperative societies, each involved in a different industrial sector.

Tata Motors Grihini Shivankala Society, for example, stitches uniforms and hand gloves for Tata Motors company employees, besides producing various other items of sale, including bags, purses etc, which are sold in the open market.

Tata Motors Grihini Cable Harness Society assembles cable harnesses while Tata Motors Grihini Electronics Society assembles electronic components used in vehicles produced by the Tata Motors.

Tata Motors Grihini Vividh Karyakari Society prepares spices and other eatable items. Members of this society are presently busy preparing sweets and other eatables for the Diwali festival.

The all-women cooperative welfare body is headed by the wife of a senior executive of the Tata company, appointed by the company, while the other office-bearers are elected from among the members.

Speaking to Sakal Times, Grihini Social Welfare Society's Vice-president Jayashree Shrikhande, Secretary Supriya Gosawi, and Treasurer Savita Shinde said, "The four cooperative societies' members work for five hours a day and they are paid monthly wages, along with other benefits like leaves, bonus, gratuity, etc."

The members work in two-shifts as per their convenience and some members, like those belonging to the tailoring cooperative, can also operate from their homes, they said.

Grihini Welfare Society has generously contributed to the Sakal Relief Fund.

"This year, the cooperative society avoided lavish spending at its annual general body meeting and the saved amount of Rs 1 lakh was contributed for the fund to rehabilitate the victims of the recent floods in Uttarakhand," Shrirang Dhavale, Tata Motors Divisional Manager (corporate sustainability), said.

ABOUT THE SOCIETY

Established by Leelatai Moolgaokar, wife of former TELCO chairman Sumant Moolgaokar, Tata Motors Grihini Social Welfare Society presently boasts of Rs 10.7 crore annual turnover and is involved in diverse traditional as well as modern industries.

Born as a journalist

Born as a journalist

I had been visiting the newspaper office in Panaji in Goa for nearly two months, pestering the news editor there for a part-time or a fulltime time. I had just appeared for the BA final examination of the Bombay University and wanted some job to continue post-graduation studies. I was aspiring for a college teacher's post after securing the MA degree in philosophy.

The news editor had no hesitation in giving a job, the only issue was that I was inclined to accept a proof-reader's post which would have permitted me to attend my PG classes while the news editor M M Mudaliar wanted me to take up a reporter's post. I was too naïve to know the functioning of various posts in a newspaper.

Mudaliar was a thorough gentleman who gave a patient hearing to his numerous visitors. This was in stark contrast to the newspaper editor who was young, impatient to hear others and ever restless but very dynamic with his ideas. But the young editor had high regard for the middle-aged news editor and would not normally veto his decisions. I had gained these insights during my numerous visits to the newspaper located in an old one-storeyed building with a wooden stairs and floor and a typically Goan tiled roof.

During one of such visits, the young editor once sent me to a school in Ribandar where the headmistress had beat up a student with a wooden scale. The news editor also asked to write an article on the furniture sale that was going on on the banks of the nearby Mandovi river. Incidentally, both the stories got published in the same issue of the newspaper, one with a byline and the other with a tag of 'By a Staff Reporter'.

The next morning, I was in the news editor's cabin, beaming with joy of publication of my byline in the newspaper. “Sir, what about my job...?” I asked him again.

“But you have already been hired...” he said as he lit his pipe.

“Since when?” I asked, astonished.

“From yesterday, August 18..Those two news stories were your first assignment,” he replied as a matter of fact.

August 18 was my birthday. His reply meant that was also the day I was born as a journalist. I recalled this today as this incident had taken place exactly 32 years ago.