St Patrick’s Cathedral revamp underway

St Patrick’s Cathedral revamp underway

Camil Parkhe
Thursday, December 03rd, 2009 AT 5:12 PM
Tags: Pune, St Patrick’s Cathedral, Thomas Dabre


The 159-year-old St Patrick’s Cathedral, an important city landmark, is undergoing major renovation


PUNE: The 159-year-old St Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the oldest churches in western Maharashtra, is undergoing make over and is expected to don a new look by March, next year.

The renovation work of the cathedral, the headquarters of Pune Catholic Pune diocese, was formally inaugurated by Pune Bishop Thomas Dabre and bishop emeritus Valerian D’Souza on September 8, the feast of Mother Mary. The actual repairs and renovation work, however, began only recently.

The cathedral had undergone major repairs 25 years ago when the entire roof of the church had collapsed.

Speaking to Sakaal Times, Fr Malcolm Sequeira, rector of the cathedral, said that much of the repairs of the historic structure were deferred in the past due to various reasons. Now the repairs were urgently needed to prevent further damages to the structure which is an important city landmark, he said.

A committee of some members of St Patrick’s parish has been formed to assist in the renovation project. These parishioners, who are experts in construction field, include civil engineers Brig Eustace D’Costa, Captain Renaldo Sequeira, architects Richard Pereira and Shweta Sequeira, and interior designer Stanley Fernandes.

Fr Sequeira said that the cathedral’s complete renovation including interiors is expected to cost over Rs 80 lakh. As the cathedral is one and half centuries old, it is difficult to estimate the exact damages to this structure and so the cathedral authorities say that the actual cost may rise further as the repairs go on.

Fr Sequeira has appealed to the parish’s faithful and others to contribute towards meeting the renovation cost. Besides, various fund raising activities have also been planned.

The cathedral incidentally will enter its 160th year celebration next week. The first mass at the religious shrine was celebrated on December 8, 1950. The construction of the church had then cost Rs 22,000. A major portion of this amount was raised through donation from Catholic soldiers posted in this area.

Dalits’ right to quota continues after conversion: Dr Ambedkar

'Dalit Christians: Right to reservations'
Camil Parkhe

Published by:
Indian Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge (ISPCK)
New Delhi



CONTENTS



Foreword – Rev S M Chandorikar
Preface
1Dalit Status did not end with conversion
2Untouchability, casteism among Christians in South India.
3Untouchability, casteism among Christians in Maharashtra.
4The Church’s stance on untouchability, casteism
5Reservations to dalit Christians during British regime.
6Reservations to Hindu SCs, STs and dalit Sikhs
7Reservations denied to neo Buddhists
8Dalits’ right to reservations continues after conversion- Dr Ambedkar
9Initial moves to organise dalit Christians
10Dalit Christians’ manifesto on right to reservations (1970)
11Justification for dalit Christians’ right to reservations
12 Stir by the Bishops’ Council and Graduates Association
13. Dalit Christians in Maharashtra included among OBCs
14. Reservations extended to neo Buddhists
15. The RSS opposes reservations to dalit Christians
16. Reservations to dalit Christians in south India
17. Attitude of urban Christians towards dalitatva and reservations
18.Solidarity of Jai Bhim and Jai Khrist








8. Dalits’ right to reservations continues after conversion - Dr Ambedkar


Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, had emphasised that even after giving up Hinduism and accepting Buddhism or any other religion, the right to reservations and concessions remained unaltered. Babasaheb, having drafted the Constitution of our country, must have definitely known the legal and social basis for the statements he made. He embraced Buddhism along with thousands of his followers in Nagpur in 1956. After the mass conversion ceremony, he explained his stand on conversion, while assuring his followers that even after the conversion, reservations would continue for the converted dalits. Dr Ambedkar’s this address is an excellent example of his immense brilliance, his self-confidence and his concern for the dalits.

Some people often do ask –‘ if the right to reservation is still demanded after conversion, then why to resort to conversion at all?‘ Dr Ambedkar has explained the need for conversion, besides giving an assurance to his followers that whatever concessions he had helped them gain, he would ensure that the same would be given to them even after giving up Hindu religion.

Dr Ambedkar in his speech said, ”The press and many people have criticised me for the mission I have initiated. Some have criticised me severely. According to them, I am misguiding my poor, innocent untouchable people. They are instigating some of us by saying that untouchables would remain as they were even after conversion while they would be forgoing their existing concessions. They are asking them to go by the path already marked for them. If there is suspicion in the minds of some young and old people, it is our duty to dispel it”

Dr Ambedkar further says,” Yesterday, a Brahmin youth came to me and said, - there are reserved seats for you in Parliament and Assemblies, why do you forgo them?” I answered, “You become Mahar and fill up those vacancies in Parliament and the Assemblies. Whenever there is a vacancy, it is filled. Some Brahmins and many others apply for it. Why don’t you Brahmins become Mahars and fill the reserved seats as well? My question to them is why they have to cry when we suffer a loss? ”

‘As a matter of fact, human beings love dignity and not benefits’, Dr Ambedkar said, adding that the aim of the conversion was to lead a life of dignity and honour.

Dr Ambedkar said, ”Even though, we have become Buddhists, I am absolutely confident that I would retain our political rights. I cannot say what will happen after my death. This movement ( to retain reservations for dalits after conversion) will need tremendous work. I have given a thorough thought to circumvent the problems, to put in efforts and to argue the case to for the same. Whatever concessions I have acquired are for my people only. I am confident that the one who acquired these rights will help secure the same once again. I myself have been instrumental in granting of these rights and concessions and I am sure I will get them again. You should therefore trust me for the time being. I shall prove that there is no substance in the propaganda by the opposition.”

Two months after the mass conversion ceremony, Dr Ambedkar died in New Delhi. And a new question arose; whether the erstwhile untouchables and neo- Buddhists should enjoy the right to reservations and concessions after they had given up Hinduism. Dr Ambedkar who had emphasised that dalits’ right to reservations continued even after their conversion to Buddhism, was no longer there to fight on behalf of the neo Buddhists.

The government of Maharashtra, however, under its own special powers, decided to continue the concessions to the neo Buddhists. At the national level, these reservations and concessions were denied in totality to Dr Ambedkar’s followers on the grounds of their conversion. The neo Buddhists in the country had to struggle for over two and half decades to get their just rights restored. The Janata Dal government at the Centre, under the progressive leadership of Prime minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh, at last extended the reservations and other concessions to the neo Buddhists at national level. An injustice meted out to dalit Sikhs was done away in 1956, the neo Buddhists too received justice in 1990. The dalit Christians in the country, however, continue to await a messiah who would deliver justice to them. .


Reference:

1.Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Charitra Sadhana Prakashan Samiti, Editors- Hari Narke, Vasant Moon, Prof. Ashok Godghade, Prof M. L. Kasare, N. G. Kamble, ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Lekhan Ani Bhashane, Vol 18 , Part 3, 1946 to1956- (published in Marathi daily Loksatta, 9 October, 2005)

If you are good citizens and good Christians, then you must vote: Cardianal Oswald Gracias

Cities >> Pune
Published in Sakaal Times
Voting is a must: Cardinal Gracias

Camil Parkhe
Sunday, October 11th, 2009 AT 11:10 AM
Tags: Pune, Maharashtra, Mumbai Cardinal, Oswald Gracias
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Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias


PUNE: If you are good citizens and good Christians, then it is your duty and responsibility to vote on October 13, a circular issued by Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias to Maharashtrian Christians has said.

Gracias, whose ecclesiastical jurisdiction runs over Mumbai archdiocese and suffragan dioceses of Pune, Nashik, Kalyan (Syro-Malabarese rite) and Vasai, said that exercising franchise is everyone’s responsibility in the temporal field. He stressed that the Second Vatican Council, the last epoch-making conclave held by the Church in 1960s, insisted on this.

Gracias is among the six Indian cardinals, two of whom are posted in Rome while one has retired after completion of 80 years.

Gracias, vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, has urged the faithful to pray at home and at Sunday masses so that the state gets good leaders. The cardinal’s circular outlined three duties of Christians as to pray for a good government, to vote and to vote wisely. On the issue of ‘wise’ voting, he asked people to vote for those who are clean and have a record of working selflessly for people. Vote for people who are not divisive and will work for uplift of the poor and underprivileged, he said.

There are at least 16 Christians in Mumbai and Thane district, who have entered the poll fray. Congress is the only major party to nominate two Christians - sitting MLA Annie Shekhar in Colaba and Janet D’Souza in Ghatkopar West.

notes: SWINE FLU SCARE - Low-key Matmauli Yatra

notes: SWINE FLU SCARE - Low-key Matmauli Yatra

notes: At 101, Fr Neuner has a quiet birthday

notes: At 101, Fr Neuner has a quiet birthday

notes: Catholic Church's marriage preparation course

notes: Catholic Church's marriage preparation course

SWINE FLU SCARE - Low-key Matmauli Yatra

SWINE FLU SCARE - Low-key Matmauli Yatra this year CAMIL PARKHE reporters@sakaaltimes.com Ahmednagar:
The government administration and the Catholic Church have jointly launched a series of measures to ensure a low key celebration of the forthcoming annual Matmauli Yatra at Haregaon in Shrirampur taluka to curb the spread of H1N1 virus among lakhs of faithful arriving from different parts of the state.Haregaon is described as Pandharpur of the Marathispeaking Christians who throng this village for the feast of Mother Mary, celebrated every year on the second Saturday and Sunday of September.
Significantly, this is the 61st year of the Matmauli Yatra launched by a German Jesuit Gerhard Baader for the benefit of poor faithful who could not afford to attend the Mount Mary feast at Bandra in Mumbai.
Over the years, the number of faithful attending the Yatra has swelled to around five lakh, creating tremendous pressures on the administration and the church. Incidentally, the Matmauli feast is the first major yatra in the rural sector in Maharashtra after the outbreak of the swine flu pandemic. Among the pilgrims from outside Ahmednagar district are those who come from neighbouring Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik districts and Mumbai which are among the areas worst affected by the H1N1 virus.
Speaking to Sakaal Times, Shrirampur tehsildar Chandrakant Devgune said that a meeting of the representatives of St Teresa Church, government officials and UndirgaonHaregaon village panchayat has unanimously decided to discourage people from descending on the village in large numbers.
Stalls near the entrance of the huge impressive St Teresa Church will be totally banned while no permission would be granted for funfair stalls at the yatra site. Strict action would be taken against those violating the orders, Devgune said. The state-level kabbadi tournament held on the second day of the feast has also been cancelled.
A meeting held in the village on Saturday to discuss steps to avoid large assembly during the yatra was attended by local sub-divisional officer Gitanjali Bawiskar, Devgune, local priests Fr Nolasco Gomes and Fr Gilbert Denis, and Deputy superintendent of Police Prakash Munde and sarpanch Gaikwad.
The meeting has appealed to outstation devotees not to organise padyatras to the pilgrim centre and not to camp there on September 12 night.Instead, the faithful have been urged to conduct the pilgrimage on any of the nine day of novena prayers preceding the feast in order to avoid rush on the feast day.
The priests in Ahmednagar as well as in Pune, Nashik and Aurangabad districts and elsewhere have also been urged to advise their parishioners not to flock to Haregaon on the feast day.