Dedications

Fr. Stan Swamy a Catholic priest who was murdered by the legal system as he stood for the rights of tribal communities and their rights over their land. A man who ensured the Constitutional rights be applied for human rights of the tribals. In the process his own rights deprived in a maze of legal cobweb and ultimately jailed and branded as a  terrorist. Finally died with mental torture and physical deprivation of basic needs, like a sipper to drink water due to his ailing health

A juxtaposed life with that of Jesus Christ who was branded as a criminal for sedition against the Empire. Finally crucified and even deprived a drink of water as he lay hung on the cross. Instead given a drink of vinegar doused on a sponge.

Bringing Dr. Shashi Tharoor as a speaker was a great choice. Like any celebrity that would bring in the crowds. I am a great fan of Dr. Shashi Tharoor for his his linguistic power over the English language and his depth of knowledge of global history, politics and social issues. Beyond that I doubt his abilities to make a change. His political ambition to be the top boss of the Congress Party may end up as the Top Puppet of the Congress Party akin to Dr. Manmohan Singh. One of the best and highly educated Prime Minsiter India has ever had. Unfortunately firmly held by a leash by the Gandhi Family. Dr. Shashi Tharoor too even stated and accepted that the Gandhi's would be central to the Congress Party. How much of sycophancy and low levels can Intellectuals bow down too? Democracy needs not just 'Freedom of Expression but also Freedom from Dynastic ruling.' As In India it is not Democracy but Dictatocracy. Where Autocracy and Dictatorship is packed as Democracy.

Dr. Tharoor's eloquecy of speech shadowed the purpose and subject of the evening and ended with it being a more enriching and enlightening history class and evolution history of human rights and how they differ across culture. Then being a political celebrity, can get away with poor comparison. Poor example of an Indian attired man beating his wife, with a question whose rights are getting violated? Great stand up comedy line. Something again which he is good at and maybe ensuring a parallel career and his mane maintained incase his political ambitions cannot stand up. Another example was of a rich man flying business class and a poor man sleeping under a bridge. This was the same Dr. Shashi Tharoor who once stated that he does not fly economy class of an Airline as it is cattle class.

Then were Catholic Clergy who shared the dias with Dr. Shashi Tharoor. One of them being Fr. Frazer. His nursing Fr. Stan Swamy in his last days and having name shown as next of kin was heart warming. Then was his sharing a conversation where he asked Fr. Stan Swamy, why do all this work with life being in danger and not take up some other work as Fr. Stan Swamy had held a lot of important positions in educational Institutes of the Church. Fr. Stan Swamy's answer could have made a lot of clergy at the meeting hang their head in shame, where he said "My Lord Jesus suffered much more worse". 

What is the Catholic Church in India and especially the Clergy doing? Nuns Raped, Children sodomised, Bishop fathering kids? What preaching Freedom of Expression is the Church advocating? What did the Church do for Fr. Stan Swamy? One of the richest religious bodies? What has been the support or from the Archbishop House where Cardinal Oswald Gracias resides? What has been statements from the Vatican or the Pope? Will the Catholic Church have the courage to demand immediate beatification of Fr. Stan Swamy? Mother Teresa's was fast tracked, why not Fr. Stan Swamy? One does not need a miracle to prove to be cannonised a Saint. It can be just someone who was Christ Like as Fr. Stan Swamy. Fr  Stan Swamy beatification would be the biggest slap on Indian democracy and it's judiciary. The Indian Roman Catholic Church should be a Indian Roaring Catholic Church, as Vatican is a body of white supremacist and fascists and will stay that way for a long time. Maybe till the second coming.

Definitely courageous and heartening was to hear a Nun, Sr. Pauline pose a couregous question on women empowerment. A Church that does not give women to be in power is preaching 'Freedom of Expression'. Are the Nuns to be regaled as Mary Magdalenes of the Church to perfume the feet of the Priests with their hair? Slavery of Nuns by the Cathloic Church is in the Public Domain. What was more surprising and shocking, not a word on Sr  Lucy, who spoke of Nuns being being allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal. A Nun who is currently protesting for ill treatment meted out to her by her Convent. Demanding legal protection from the state for Nuns on autrocities done to them.  

Will Sr. Lucy be remembered after she is dead? This time not killed by the state or the judiciary but by the Church? Maybe Dr. Shashi Tharoor would be generous to grace that occasion too with his Intellectual entertainment of history. However Shashi Tharoor was inordinately delayed for yesterday's meeting but hats off to the Spirit of Bandra and residents who ensured the crowds were kept entertained. Why was Dr. Shashi Tharoor delayed? Bad roads and even more bad traffic. Maybe next he could give a talk on 'Freedom of Movement'. 

India and the Roman Catholic Church in India don't just need people who can talk but also walk the talk,  also get crucified for walking their talk.