The Christian-majority state of Mizoram in northeast India has been rocked by a marriage leading to a religious conversion and granting of tribal status to an outsider.
At the center of the heated controversy is the scheduled tribe (ST) certificate issued by the Aizawal district administration in 2018 to Kamrul Islam Laskar, a non-tribal man who married a local Mizo woman. Laskar converted to Christianity and even adopted a local name – Kamlova Chhangte – but the nativist organizations who are dead against outsiders marrying into the predominantly Christian tribes want nothing of it.
The Mizo people are known to be inseparably knitted together by their strong ethnic, familial and religious bonds.
A coordination committee steered by the Young Mizo Association (YMA), arguably the most influential student body in the state, now wants state authorities to cancel the ST certificate issued to Laskar.
The YMA has long demanded a law to ensure that Mizo women who marry a non-tribal man should lose their ST status, robbing them of special privileges guaranteed in the Indian constitution including reservations in education and employment.
It has been joined by other influential student organizations like the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), known for administering an oath to school students across the state to not marry outside the Mizo tribes.
Salesian college students build house for mother in Kerala
A homeless mother with two children received a new house, thanks to the volunteers of Don Bosco Arts and Science College at Angadikadavu in Kerala’s Kannur district.
The project began when Lucy George, a Salesian cooperator, heard during a bus journey Jessy talk about her problems of being homeless.
George mentioned this to the students at Don Bosco Arts and Science College, who along with their teachers and management took up the challenge of constructing a house.
The 600-square-feet house has two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a work area. The cost was provided for by donations from students, staff, management and well-wishers. It is the fourth house constructed by the college’s volunteers, reports Salesians Mission “Newswire.”
Indian Catholics seek legal action against defamation
Catholic officials in the southern Indian state of Kerala have begun lodging police complaints against what they call a rising trend in media to defame the Church, particularly priests and nuns. “Our priests and nuns have lodged more than 160 police complaints across the state against certain online, mainstream and social media platforms for portraying Catholic priests and nuns in a poor light,” said Father Michael Pulickal, secretary of Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council’s commission for social harmony and vigilance.
Bishop Mulakkal to hold exclusive classes for priests
Bishop Franco Mulakkal of Jalandhar will take classes during an exclusive seminar for Catholic priests in Kerala, southern India.
Christeen, a Catholic Charismatic movement for children, is organizing the February 24 seminar in Kottayam, a major town in Kerala. The seminar will address issues and problems faced by the Church, especially in Kerala.
Bishop Mulakkal on February 22 confirmed to Matters India his participation in the program.
Manipur: Convent gutted in midnight fire, nuns escape unhurt
A convent was gutted in a fire accident February 22 in the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur.
All three sisters in the Daughters of St Francis de Sales convent managed to come out of their rooms when the fire broke out at 00:15 am. The convent was situated at Laii village in Senapati district.
“It is fortunate that there was no loss of life,” Father Solomon Thezii, chancellor of Imphal archdiocese, told Matters India.
The convent was in an isolated area. However, villagers rushed to the convent hearing the noise and prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent school.
Kerala policeman praised for saving man from mob
Unknown persons become heroes overnight through their self-less service to humanity or their quick action to save someone from danger.
One such person is Kiran Shyam, sub inspector of Aruvikkara in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district.
His brave act that saved a person from an angry mob has brought him accolades and stardom.
53 anti-Christian incidents registered in 45 days
As many as 53 incidents of violence against Christians were registered in the first 45 days of 2022, says an ecumenical group based in New Delhi.
The United Christian Forum on February 15 said the incidents were recorded by its toll-free helpline number launched seven years ago. The 53 incidents were recorded as on February 14.
‘There has been a steady rise in incidents of violence against Christians,” says a press note from A C Michael, the forum’s national coordinator.
The helpline number (1-800-208-4545) aims to help Christians in distress, especially those who are not aware of the law of the land and the system. It guides people on how to reach out to the authorities, besides providing the way to legal remedies.
The helpline registered 505 cases last year.
A press release from the forum says its data is not exhaustive as many case have not been reported.
However, the helpline recorded 127 incidents in 2014, 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, and 505 in 2021.
Michael narrated a mob violence in 2021. A group of radicals interrupted the Sunday service by loud abuse and physical assault at Wajidpur, Tendui, Gaya, Bihar.
“On July 11, 2021, a group of 20 attacked around 90 people praying together in a house. The victims sustained injuries and warnings that they should not conduct religious gatherings. The pastor fled the house to save his life. It took three months to file a complaint with the various government officials in the area,” Michael added.
Christians form just 2.3 percent of India’s population, according to the 2011 Census.
The forum released the data as elections are underway in five Indian states. None of the political parties in the fray has guaranteed protection for minorities, the forum regrets.
“We appeal to the government and all political parties as they contest elections in various states to ensure rights of all minorities within the framework of the Constitution of India,” the forum says.
Indian archbishop calls for protection of Christians
A Catholic archbishop in southern India has appealed to the provincial government to protect Christians, their places of worship, religious symbols and sacred structures.
Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore said the Feb. 15 demolition of a statue of Jesus and Stations of the Cross at Gokunte in Kolar district of Karnataka state “had not only affected the sentiments of the Christian community but also the people of other faiths.” “It was heartbreaking to see hundreds of people shedding tears,” Arch-bishop Machado said in a press statement on Feb. 17. A dispute over the possession of the land was pending in Karnataka High Court but officials went ahead with the demolition even before the court could pass a final order. The archdiocese had also filed a petition in the high court challenging the demolition of the Christian structures on Feb. 19.
Archbishop Machado noted that in the past two years the state had “seen demolitions occurring at six such places on the hills and systematic attacks on churches across the state.”
These religious places were patronized and maintained as places of devotion in Bangalore and its surroundings for decades, he said. “We only fear that many more such harsh, orchestrated and insensitive attacks are sure to happen in the coming days,” the prelate added.
Archbishop Machado hoped and prayed that the government will protect Christian places of worship, religious symbols and sacred structures.
India government destroys 20-foot Jesus statue in Christian village
Officials have destroyed a 20-foot-tall statue of Jesus that has been standing in a village in India for 18 years.
The local administration said the statue was built on land reserved as an animal pasture, and claims its destruction was ordered by the High Court. However, Christian leaders from the region say the case was still pending.
The statue was destroyed on early Tuesday in Gokunte village in Karnataka state, in south-western India.
“We demolished the statue based on the High Court order. After seven to eight hearings, the High Court had ordered the demolition of the statue as it was constructed on government land. We had issued a notice to the church regarding the demolition. We had to submit the compliance report to the High Court on Wednesday and hence it was demolished,” said a local official.
Father Theres Babu, who is also a lawyer, said that the demolition letter was never shown to them.
“The government has been repeatedly saying that the demolition letter was issued. We have been asking her to show the demolition order. It is not clear if it was a judgement. But [the government official] never show-ed us the order. She has been claiming that the government advocate has sent her an email, saying that the High Court has given an order and based on that she went ahead and demolished the statue,” Babu told journalists.
Hunger Watch Survey reveals alarming food insecurity in India
The recent Hunger Watch Survey reveals an alarming state of food insecurity and economic distress in India.
The study was conducted by the Right to Food Campaign India along with a number of associated organizations and the results were released February 23 at the Press Club of India, New Delhi.
According to the study, close to 80% of those surveyed report-ed some form of food insecurity. A staggering 25% reported severe food insecurity for six months after the devastating second wave of the corona pandemic.
The survey also revealed that more than 60% were unable to eat healthy or nutritious food, or could eat only a few varieties of foods in the month preceding the survey.
The survey says that about 45 percent respondents reported that their households ran out of food in the month preceding the survey. A third of the respondents reported they or someone in their household went to bed hungry.
Other findings are:
As many as 66% said their income decreased as compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Overall, 40% households with working members, and 31 percent of the total Hunger Watch-II sample reported that current incomes are less than half the pre-pandemic levels.
The report says, close to 45% households had some outstanding debt. Around 21% respondents have a total debt of more than 50,000 rupees.