Faith Not Complemented By Action Is Dead

Light of Truth

Dominic Thomas
(Senior Producer with External Services
Division of All India Radio, New Delhi)

As radio programme producer you are creating all your programmes with sound. You once created a programme of collective sounds of all the birds that sing at dawn. The universe is full of silence from which originate the sound – which can be music which is most universal language, what does the silence and sound in the world tell you?

There is no simple answer that can completely answer this question. But it is an interesting question to a radio producer for whom silence is a sin and sound is a virtue. Radio thrives on sound and dies on silence.

For me silence is spiritual and sound is action. Silence is so brittle that even pronouncing its name can break it. Sound is born out of silence. The divine word of Indian ethos “AUM” is prefixed and suffixed by silence. We need silence to be able to reach our Self. Both internal and external silence is very important to feel the presence of that Supreme Being.” The Genesis says “Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” over empty formless silent earth. Genesis Chapter 3 says Adam and Eve heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the silence of the day. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” God speaks to you and me in silence. God is the friend of silence. See how nature–trees, flowers, grass–grows in silence; see the stars, the moon, and the sun, how they move in silence. The vast immensity of space, gravity, electricity, sunlight and life itself is silent.

Sound has a profound effect on the senses. It can be both heard and felt. It can even be seen with the mind’s eye. Sound can evoke responses of the five senses. Sound can paint a picture, produce a mood, trigger the senses to remember another time and place. We hear sound with our entire body. When I hear my own name, I have as much a sense of it entering my body through my limbs as through my ears. Sound speaks to the sensorial; the entire system of nerves that stimulates sensual response.

You won the prestigious All India “Gandhian Philosophy Award” in 2014 for the inspirational and informative radio documentary on Titus an unknown foot soldier of Gandhi, who marched with the Mahatma during the salt march of 1930 who was the solitary Christian selected by Gandhi for the march. What does his life with Gandhi tell you and us?

Thevarthundiyil Titus from Maramon village in Kerala is the only Christian chosen by Mahatma Gandhi to be a participant of the famous salt march (Dandi Yatra) of 1930. Gandhi used to call him Titusji. I decided to produce a radio documentary on him to dispel the perception that is prevalent in India that Christian had not played an active role in the freedom movement and they were passive in their approach to the struggle for independence. In fact many were surprised to learn the fact that Titus was an inmate of the Sabarmati Ashram and was the manager of dairy farm of the Ashram. I was fortunate to peruse through a portion of the diary noting of Titus, (Thanks to his son Thomas Titus) related to the Salt march. Titus vividly describes his life in the Ashram with the Mahatma and other inmates.

Gandhi was a very caring person. He visited the house of Titus to meet his father on the way to Aranmula Parthasarathi Temple, as his father was worried about the well-being of his son. Ashramites of Sabarmati had to do free service without any pay, but Gandhi paid Titus a small amount every month to be sent to his Father. Titus further notes about the life of austerity and simplicity that everyone had to adhere at the ashram. Everyone had to perform all works irrespective of their professional expertise, i.e. cleaning the toilet, cooking in the kitchen, working in the kitchen garden, cleaning the dishes, washing own clothes in the Sabarmati river, spinning wheel to produce yarn and weave clothes from the yarn to be tailored as dress for self and others. Daily prayers at dawn and dusk at the prayer ground was a must for all the members. Gandhi did not offer them a rosy future when he selected the marchers for the Dandi march. He forewarned them of prosecution, brutality and even death. He gave them freedom to opt out of the march if they wished to. Simplicity and austerity was observed during the march and the offer of a consignment of Biscuits by a company was politely refused by Bapu as he considered it a luxury, because he considered the march as a pilgrimage and marchers ought to be one with the people only when they eat the simple food offered by the villagers along the way. Educating villagers on dignity of labour, sanitation, cleanliness, swadeshi, khadi was the duty of every marcher. He used to call on every marcher at the end of the days march to enquire about their well-being and check blisters on their feet and gave them tips to reduce swelling. The list is endless as each day of the 24 day march something unique on Bapu was revealed to the marchers and to the world. He is indeed truly a Mahatma.

You produced a radio documentary in English titled “Bridging Distance,” human life very much crossing the ferry or bridging distance. How important is this crossing and bridging between persons, communities, castes, tribes and religions in this land?

The growth of internet was the theme for the documentary ‘Bridging distance.’ It was produced in 2003 when internet was at its infancy. Today it has grown by leaps and bounds and we have plethora of internet enabled gadgets, devices modes and mediums that has shrunk the world in to a village. The world is virtually connected and embedded more than ever before. However I wonder whether this physical connectivity and togetherness has bridged the gap or expanded the chasm between human beings and communities. In spite of the availability and usage of all means of connectivity, have we not become narrow minded instead of broadminded?

Have we not become self-centred, building digital walls and squeeze ourselves into it like a cocoon? A common scene in any public place is that people are engrossed on their digital device oblivious of the happening around. We don’t even bother to look at the face of person sitting next to you and pass pleasant smile at him or her. I feel we are on the road to digital addiction. We are fast becoming smart slaves. There is a thin line between being a social media enthusiast and a digital addict. Our own innovations and creations which can bring in wonders for mankind have enslaved us. What an irony that the creator has become subservient to creations. The devises created to unite us are dividing us today in the name of caste, class, colour, creed, and region.
The digital devices and means of digital communication, and social media are the most powerful tools of connectivity that can usher in revolution in our lives especially to the marginalised, oppressed and suppressed sections of the society. Social media is not just a medium that helps us to stay connected but also one that offers a platform for free exchange of ideas and thoughts. Today information, enlightenment and empowerment is the key for meaningful, successful quality life.

How does your Christian faith help you to this humanistic attempt to crossover to others, and how important is this from spiritual point of view?

“Love your neighbour as yourself,’ says the Holy Bible. I consider it as the most important tenet and emblem of Christianity. The Holy Bible further says ‘one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.” The benchmark for final judgement as in the gospel of St Mathew is entirely based on loving your neighbour as yourself. In fact human and humane nature of man is the key point to evaluate one’s life to determine his eligibility for eternal life. Christianity is often called as the religion for others. The other centric focus of Christianity is reflected in Gandhi’s talisman and deeds and words St Teresa of Kolkata, who said “A life not lived for others is not a life.”

As a broadcaster this faith in action, what St James calls in his epistle “Faith without Works is dead,” is the guiding spirit of my professional work. As a public service broadcaster at the service of the people of India, my pay masters, it is my duty to inform, inspire, educate, empower, and conscientize them on their rightful rights and privileges. For the last 28 years before finalising a production I used to ask myself “Is this programme relevant and useful to my listeners? Is this programme merely an expression of my creative prowess and artistic talent? My thought process to conceive and execute programme was always guided and influenced by the eternal values of humanity which is very well expressed in the Holy Bible and Indian ethos which speak of ‘Nishkama karma.” For me spirituality is faith in action. I believe, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead.

How important is communication and connectivity from Christian point of view of the Church?

‘Communication’ ‘connectivity’ ‘social media’ are the buzz words of today’s interconnected, interlinked and interdependent world. The new media, digital and virtual media, the mobile platforms are effective and right medium to reach people who want everything instant’ including faith and spirituality. The world stands in need of liberation, healing touch, love, compassion, kindness, justice, equality, liberty, solace, tranquillity and peace of mind, that only Jesus brings in. The laity, religious and the clergy of the Church must tap the immense potential of new age media to reach everyone on all corners of the earth in their own language and dialect with the pearls of wisdom of the Holy Bible and to act as catalyst and agent of change for a better world. We are called to be salt of the earth and let us use all the modern devices at our disposal to be worthy salt and shining light amidst encircling gloom.

As a catholic how important is Christ and the Church for you as a distinguished government servant doing a very sensitive and very important role in All India Radio? What is the secret of your success in your career?

I have no hesitation to admit that the son of an illiterate marginalised farmer from a remote village in Kerala, getting educated in Malayalam language till his matriculation would have written and produced radio programmes in English without the abundant grace and showers of blessings of the Almighty GOD. I believe that He as a potter moulded and shaped me after His will. He led me through green pastures. My Christian friends often tell me the spirit of biblical teachings and Christian ideals are reflected in my choice of subject or theme and the message conveyed through my scripts. My non-christians friends tell me that you have chosen a pertinent subject that is relevant and message that you have conveyed has universal and eternal values and we are touched and inspired by your programme. Jesus had a plan for me and made me an instrument in His hand to contribute my own little way in accordance with the motto of All India Radio “Bahujan Hitaya: Bahujan Sukhaya” (For the benefit of many, for the happiness of many).

I know only one mantra for success. It is made of two words, each consisting of four letters ‘HARD WORK.’ “Nothing succeeds like hard work and nothing defeats like indolence. Hard work coupled with determination, dedication, discipline, diligence, focus and planning even minute details can bring heaven on the earth. Creativity blossoms if one is open to dynamics of change, new ideas, new thoughts and innovation. Courage to take risk, strength to accept failures and criticism as stepping stone to success and flexibly firm personality can fetch team spirit and cooperation of others.

I dedicate my success to my family, my pillars and my world consisting of my wife and son, without whose steadfast support and encouragement I would not have been able to do anything in my life. Above all the realisation that God has created me in His own image with a mission and vision to glorify Him among all beings motivate me. I fear God, because “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

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