AS I See It

Christian Politics And Indian Democracy

Valson Thampu The foremost issue in India today is not the pollution of the environment, but the corruption of the human. If not convinced, do recall how the 2024 general elections played out and, in particular, the tone and tenor of the parliamentary debate following the address of the President to the joint session. If […]

Wayanad Welcomes Priyanka

Valson Thampu Rahul Gandhi undertook Bharat Jodo Yatra to open outlets of truth (mohabat ki dookan) nation-wide. It is more precise and relevant to consider this as an initiative to effect a shift from politics of theatre to politics of truth. All the more so, given that today the soul of India is being polluted […]

AN ELECTION aviyal OF POWER AND IDEALS

Valson Thampu Human consciousness swings between the twin poles of power and ideals. Very rarely does it stay stuck in the one or the other for any duration of time. The moment it reaches the peak of power it begins to feel the oppression that power entails. That activates the thirst for ideals; for ideals […]

Democracy, Debate And Accountability

Valson Thampu Humankind’s march to civilization, history tells us, was marked by a shift from violence to dialogue as the means to settle disputes and resolve issues. Dialogue and debate imply reciprocity guided by objective norms, fair-play, and equality of opportunity. They become irrelevant when reciprocity gives way to unilateralism. With that, the stage is […]

Post Truth Politics Vs. The Politics of Jesus

Valson Thampu Today we eat, drink, inhale and exhale politics. But, it is doubtful if we know what politics should mean. The same is true for religion as well. It is impossible, wrote Voltaire in A Treatise on Toleration, to be tolerant and religiously zealous at the same time. This issue is basic to patriotism […]

Mahabali Of Modern India, Or His Deep-Fake?

Valson Thampu I am struck by the unthinkable similarity between King Mahabali of the Onam legend and Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Many in Delhi would acknowledge the benefits derived from his people-friendly governance. I won’t be surprised if they feel secretly that Kejriwal is in trouble because of his popularity based […]

MAKING SENSE OF THE RELIGIOSITY OF SELF-ASSERTION

Valson Thampu There is a practical reason why the Bible presents God as living God. To be alive is to be able to respond. In contrast, idols, Jesus said, have eyes that see not. They are there; but not so in relation to anything beyond themselves. Idolatry is man adoring himself as God, of which […]

Development As Makebelieve

Valson Thampu Daily we are served a heady diet of propagandist advertisement on how the Modi government, inspired and infallible, is driving us to a new haven of power and people’s welfare. We have now a new and simple answer to the old question, ‘What is development?’. Development is what Modi does. Correspondingly, anti-development is […]

Eviction-facing Indian Catholics to fight Muslim charity’s claims

Goans oppose tourism project near 16th century basilica